Biomolecules
The Building Blocks of Life
Biomolecules are Organic Molecules
1. Molecules containing Carbon, Hydrogen,
Nitrogen, and Oxygen.
2. They make up living organisms Examples:
Methane (CH4) Glucose (C6H12O6) are all
organic molecules
3. Carbon is the central atom and will bond
covalently because of the 4 valence electrons
(outermost shell) total of 6 electrons.
4. CHONP
Elements
Lipids - Primarily C, H and some O
Carbohydrates – C, H, O in a 1:2:1 ratio
Proteins – C, H, O, N
Nucleic Acids – C, H, O, N, P
Biomolecules
1. Basic Molecule: Proteins,
Carbohydrates (sugars), Lipids (Fats),
Nucleic Acid (DNA, RNA)
2. Macromolecule: Large molecules of the
above that can be broken down.
•
Ex. Starch into sugar / polysaccharide (starch)
into monosaccharide (glucose)
Biomolecules with Examples
1. Monomers: The smaller molecules that are
the building blocks of macro molecules
• Carbohydrate – sugar or, monosaccharide
ex.’s - glucose, galactose, fructose
• Protein – amino acids ex.’s – meat, poultry,
eggs, beans, soy, nuts, ENZYMES
• Lipid – glycerol & 3 fatty acids ex.’s – fats,
oils, waxes, Cell Membranes
• Nucleic acids – nucleotides ex.’s –
DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid,
RNA = ribonucleic acid
Monomers / Polymers continued
2) Polymer: a chain of monomers
• Carbohydrate – starch, glycogen,
cellulose/Polysaccharides
• Lipids – none
• Proteins – protein / polypeptide chain
• Nucleic Acid – DNA, RNA
Carbohydrate
• Simple vs. Complex
sugars
• Simple sugars:
– Monosaccharide:
– “One” “Sugar”
– We will focus on
glucose: C6H1206
– The basic/main
source of organism
energy “quick energy”
Simple Sugars:Carbohydrates
• Simple Sugars:
– Disaccharide
– “Two” “Sugars”
– Examples:
– Table sugar: sugars=
Glucose + Fructose
– Maltose=
Glucose + Glucose
- Lactose=
Glucose + Galactose
Complex Sugars:
Polysaccharide
• “many sugars” Complex Sugar.
• Functions: Cells use them for energy and
cell wall structure  cellulose.
• They allow organisms to gradually use
energy since it is stored in large chains.
Complex Sugars: Polysaccharide
– Starch : has thousands of glucoses
(sugars) bonded together
………Thousands
Complex Sugars:
Polysaccharides
• Cellulose: Makes up the walls of plant
cells. Also made from glucose.
• Ruminants (cattle, sheep) can digest both
cellulose and glucose.
• Humans can digest starch, but not
cellulose
WHY??????????
Polysaccharides
• Glycogen: Animals store carbohydrates
(glucose) in the form of glycogen; similar
in form to starch. Why????
• This is why…
– This is our reserve energy
– Stored in liver and muscles
– We do not want to lose our carbs all at once!!
Proteins
• Made of Amino Acid
Chains
• Amino Acids are
bonded through a
peptide bond
Each ball is
An Amino
Acid.
Bonded by
Peptide
Bonds
There are 20
Amino Acids
There are 20 different occurring
amino acids
Protein Function
1. Building material: muscle, bones, hair,
fingernails
2. Enzymes: Control rate of chemical
reaction in the cells and body (catalyst)
3. Immunity: make up antibodies
4. Other specific functions such as
Hemoglobin: carry O2 in red blood cells
5. Regulate cell processes
Examples of
Protein Structures
The shape of protein
is important to its
function.
Enzyme: Quaternary Structure
Lipids (Fats)
• A common
lipid is made
of 3 fatty
acids chains
connected to
a glycerol
Lipids (Fats)
• Glycerol: a type of alcohol. The back
bone of Fats.
• 3 Fatty acid chains: Long chains of C & H
– Saturated=as many C & H bonded as
possible, single bond, (Solid at Room Temp.)
– Unsaturated= C and C bonds, must have at
least one double bond (usually Liquid at
Room Temp.) Generally good for you: fish
oil, avocado, olive oil, red meat, HDL vs LDL
Lipids (Fats) Functions
• The main energy storing molecule
because of the high # of carbon to carbon
bonds. Why are bonds important?
• …because they Store chemical energy
• Lipids store more energy than any other
biomolecule
– 9 Cal/gram = lipids
– 4 Cal/gram = carbohydrates and proteins
Lipids (Fats) Functions
• Insulate
• Main molecule of the
Cell membrane
• Make up some
hormones
(testosterone)
?Questions?
• What type of bond connects Amino Acids?
• What are lipids composed of?
• What are three of the macromolecules of
carbohydrates? What is the sugar
subunit?
• What are the four types of elements that
make up biomolecules?
Enzymes
All enzymes are proteins but…
Enzymes act as a catalyst by speeding up
chemical reactions.
All enzymes are catalysts but…
Enzymes
Enzymes – ase
Specific and depend on temperature and pH to
work efficiently…otherwise they will denature.
Enzymes are protein catalysts that carry out the chemical
reactions of metabolism. All chemical reactions require
activation energy to break chemical bonds and begin
the reaction. Enzymes lower the barriers that normally
prevent chemical reactions from occurring by decreasing
the required activation energy.