The Chemistry of Life What are living creatures

The Chemistry of Life What are living creatures made of? Why do we have to eat?

Molecules of Life § Put C, H, O, N together in different § ways to build living organisms What are bodies made of? u carbohydrates § sugars & starches proteins u fats (lipids) u nucleic acids u § DNA, RNA

Why do we eat? § We eat to take in more of these chemicals u Food for building materials § to make more of us (cells) § for growth § for repair u Food to make energy § calories § to make ATP

How do we make these molecules? We build them! 2006 -2007

Building large molecules of life § Chain together smaller molecules u building block molecules = monomers § Big molecules built from little molecules u polymers

Building large organic molecules § Small molecules = building blocks § Bond them together = polymers

Building important polymers Carbohydrates = built from sugars sugar – sugar – sugar Proteins = built from amino acids amino amino acid – acid – acid Nucleic acids (DNA) = built from nucleotides nucleotide – nucleotide

How to build large molecules § Synthesis building bigger molecules from smaller molecules u building cells & bodies u § repair § growth § reproduction + ATP

How to build a polymer § Synthesis u You gotta be open to “bonding! joins monomers by “taking” H 2 O out § one monomer donates OH– § other monomer donates H+ § together these form H 2 O u H 2 O requires energy & enzymes HO H Dehydration synthesis HO H enzyme Condensation reaction HO H

How to take large molecules apart § Digestion taking big molecules apart u getting raw materials u § for synthesis & growth u making energy (ATP) § for synthesis, growth & everyday functions + ATP

How to break down a polymer Breaking up is hard to do! § Digestion u use H 2 O to breakdown polymers § reverse of dehydration synthesis § cleave off one monomer at a time § H 2 O is split into H+ and OH– w H+ & OH– attach to ends requires enzymes HO u releases energy H 2 O u enzyme H Hydrolysis Digestion HO H

Example of digestion ATP ATP starch ATP ATP glucose ATP § Starch is digested to glucose

Example of synthesis amino acids protein § Proteins are synthesized by bonding amino acids = building block protein = polymer

Any Questions? Penguins gone bad!