Biochemistry: Water and Organic Compounds
Modern Biology Chapter 3
Water
Formed by covalent bonds (atoms share electrons)
Atoms dont share equallywater is POLAR
Oxygen end is slightly negative (O is electron hog) Hydrogen ends are slightly positive POLARITY is why water is a good solvent
Dissolves lots of different compounds
Hydrogen Bonding in Water
Polarity causes water to be attracted to each other H-bond: attraction that holds water molecules together Responsible for cohesion (sticking together) that produces surface tension
Cohesion and adhesion (attraction between unlike substances) responsible for capillarity (water moves up through stems)
Water has to gain/lose lots of energy to change temp.
This energy initially goes into breaking H-bonds This is why a pot of water on the stove isnt hot right away
Carbon Compounds
Organic compounds
Contain carbon atoms covalently bonded to each other and to other elements (H, O, N, usually) Needs 8 to be stableshares its electrons with other atoms
Carbon has 4 electrons in its outer E-level
Able to form straight chains, branched chains, or rings
Examples of Carbon bonds
Propane
Ethylene (plant hormoneripens fruit)
2-methylpropane (used in refrigeration and petrochemical industry)
Glucose
Functional Groups
Cluster of atoms that influence the properties of the molecule they are attached to.
Ex: -OH (hydroxl group)
Alcohols contain hydroxyl groups Makes alcohols polar
Allows them to dissolve in water, have H-bonds like water
Carbon Molecules
Monomers
Condensation Rxn
Small and simple; single building block Made of repeated, linked monomers
Polymers
Links monomers together AKA dehydration synthesis Forms water
Macromolecule
Hydrolysis Rxn
Made of linked polymers
Uses water to break polymers apart
Condensation/Hydrolysis
ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate
Energy molecule used by the body Broken down into ADP (releases P) ADP + P ATP Continuous Cycle
Carbohydrates
Made of C, H, O Ratio of H to O is 2:1 Sugars! Used for quick energy
Monosaccharides
Building blocks of all carbs (CH2O)n is generic formula Simple sugars Most common are glucose, fructose, galactose
Isomers: same formula, different structure
Carbohydrates
Disaccharides
Formed from 2 monosaccharides
Condensation reaction Ex: sucrose
Polysaccharides
Formed from 3+ monosaccharides
Condensation reaction
Glycogen: storage in animals (used for energy) \ Starch: storage in plants Cellulose: in plant cell walls (gives them rigidity, crunch)
Lipids
Fats! Large, non-polar; do not dissolve in water Have more C, H than O Responsible for storing energy
Lipids
Fatty Acids
Building blocks of lipids Straight carbon chain with carboxyl group (COOH) on one end (makes that end polar) Carboxyl end head = hydrophilic
Water-Loving Water-Fearing Saturated: all C-C bonds are single bonds (is full of Hs) Unsaturated: contains some double bonds
Carbon chain tail = hydrophobic
Can be Saturated or Unsaturated
Lipids
Lipids
Triglycerides
Waxes
3 Fatty Acids attached to 1 Glycerol molecule
Saturated: solid at room temp (shortening) Unsaturated: liquid at room temp (oils, found in plant seeds/fruits)
Waterproof Form protective coating on plant leaves
Steroids
Phospholipids
4 fused carbon rings w/ functional groups Hormones
2 FAs attached to 1 Glycerol
Major component of cell membrane (lipid bilayer)
Cholesterol Testosterone Etc.
Proteins
Made of C, H, O, and N Building blocks are Amino Acids
Amino Acids (20) are almost identical
Difference is the R-group (functional group)
Di-peptide: chain of 2 Amino Acids Polypeptide: lots of AAs linked together Bond that holds AAs together is peptide bond
Proteins
Amino Acid Structure
Enzymes
Proteins Act as catalyst for many reactions that occur in the body Substrate: what the enzyme acts on Product(s): what is formed from the rxn
Enzymes
Are not used up during the reaction Are not changed during the reaction
Can do the job again and again Specific shape, must fit perfectly for rxn to occur
Lock and Key fit
Enzymes can be denatured (destroyed) when:
Change in temperature (too high) Change in pH
Nucleic Acids
Used by cells to store hereditary information
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid Ribonucleic acid
RNA
Made of building blocks called nucleotides
5-carbon sugar Phosphate group Nitrogen base
