ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

The Study of Carbon Compounds

Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Sulfur

Carbon!• Most chemicals that make up living things

are Carbon-based.– Why?

• Easily forms molecules that are large, complex, and diverse.

• Up to 30% of a cell is made up of Carbon-based compounds.

Why is Carbon important to life?• Carbon is light weight and small• Carbon atoms have 4 valence electrons.

– Can bond with other elements and itself to form unlimited (in length) chains that can even fold to form rings

Macromolecules

The Molecules of Life!

Macromolecules are…• Large polymers

(poly=many)

• Built by monomers (mono = one)

• 4 main classes (examples of carbon based biomolecules)

– Carbohydrates– Lipids– Proteins– Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

Fuel and Building Material for Life!

Carbohydrates are…

• Most abundant carbon compounds found in living things

• Sugars (example) = quick energy• Monosaccharides- simple sugars

» Glucose

• Disaccharides- sugars built of 2 monosaccharides

» Sucrose+Fructose

Monomer = 1 C: 2 H: 1 O Monosaccharides (simple sugars)

C6H12O6

Carbos cont…

• Starch (example) = Polysaccharides: act as nutrient storage-and form structural components of living things• Glycogen- stores glucose in muscle

tissue for quick energy• Cellulose- provides rigid structure

»Cell wall of plant cells

CELL WALL

LIPIDS

• Fats: gylcerol and fatty acids– Saturated

• Solidifies- bad• Ex: animal fat and butter

– Unsaturated• No solidification- good• Ex: vegetable oils

– Fats are used for energy storage• Long-term food reserves stored in adipose (fat)cells

Monomer: - Glycerol and fatty

acids

Lipids cont…

• Fat (adipose) provides insulation for warmth–Whales, seals

• Fat provides cushioning for organs

I’m Fat!

Fat Cells (adipose)

Lipids cont…

• Phospholipids– Make up cell membranes

The bilayer forms a boundary between the cell and the external environment.

Phospholipid Bilayer

Proteins

The Ultimate Polymer!

Proteins…• Monomer:

– Amino acids20 different amino acids

Amino group: -NH2Carboxyl group: -COOH

Amino Acid Codon Chart

Protein Structure

• 2 or more amino acids joined by peptide bond–Hence the other name for a

protein: polypeptide chain

Structure=Function

• Protein’s specific structure (shape) determines it’s duties (job)

Four levels of organizations

Types of Proteins

• *Structural Defensive– Support -Antibodies

• Storage *Enzymes– Embryo food -catalysts

• *Transport Hormones– In and out of cell -messages

• Receptors *Contractile– Drugs -muscles

Examples of proteins

• Protein channels in cell membrane• Keratin: in fingernails and hair• Muscle fibers• Lactase

Nucleic Acids

Informational Polymers

Nucleic Acids

• 2 types– DNA-double-stranded

• Genetic material– Inherited from parents

– RNA-single-stranded• Controls protein synthesis

• Nucleic acids work together to – Build proteins

Monomer: Nucleotidespentose sugarphospate nitrogen base