Biochemistry


Biochemistry
 Compounds that do not contain carbon
 Compounds that do contain carbon
 All living organisms are made of carbon

Biochemistry
Inorganic Compound
 Water

Most important inorganic compound for living organisms

Excellent solvent

Polar compound : opposite charges at each end of the molecule

High heat capacity : can absorb and release a lot of heat/energy before changing temperatures

Biochemistry
Organic Compounds
 Carbon
 Carbon forms the structural backbone of all organic molecules.
 Can bond with 4 other atoms OR can bond with other carbons to form long chains or rings .

Biochemistry
Organic Compounds
 Monomers
 Basic units that repeat over and over
 Polymer
 large compound formed from combinations of many monomers

Biochemistry
1)
2)
3)
4)

Biochemistry
1)Carbohydrates
 Contain C , H
2
, and O in the same ratio as in water
 Used for
 Basic Monomer
 Energy source (sugars and starches)
 Structural and cellular support
 Monosaccharide

Biochemistry
Monosaccharide
 Simple sugars
 Glucose and Fructose
 Same molecular formula
 C
6
H
12
O
6

Disaccharide  Double sugar molecule
Polysaccharide
 Largest carbohydrate
 Starch : Stored food
(glucose)
 Sugar : Quick energy source

Biochemistry
* Basic Monomer
 Fats , Oils , and
Waxes
 Contains C
2
, H
2
, and
O
2
 Insoluble in water
 Storage of energy
 Helps make up the cell membrane
 Glycerol + Fatty Acid

3)Proteins
Biochemistry
 Basic building material of all living things
 Examples : hair , nails , blood, muscle , skin
 Sources : egg whites , gelatin, meat
*Basic Monomer
 Amino Acid

Biochemistry
Amino Acids (aa)
 Each has a distinctive characteristic
 Same basic structure:
 Four groups attached to a central carbon atom
 Acid Group (COO)
 Amino Group (NH
3
)
 Hydrogen Atom (H + )
 “R-Group”  Determines the amino acid

Biochemistry
Amino Acids (aa)  20 different naturally occurring amino acids
 10 produced by the human body
 Held together by peptide bonds
 Polypeptide : 3 or more amino acids bonded together

Enzymes
Biochemistry
 They are proteins
 Like a key that fits into only one lock
 The lock is the substrate
 The key is the enzyme
 Active Site : Place where the enzyme and substrate bond
 Catalyst : Enzymes that speeds up a reaction

Biochemistry
4) Nucleic Acids
 Carry instructions for cellular activity
*Basic Monomer
 Nucleotide

Biochemistry
Deoxyribonucleic Acid  DNA
 Blueprint of instructions that get transmitted from generation to generation
 Found in the nucleus only (of eukaryotic cells)!!!

Biochemistry
Ribonucleic Acid  RNA
 Transfers and reads the instructions  then makes proteins
 Found in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm

Three types of RNA:
 mRNA
 tRNA
 rRNA
 Messenger RNA
 Transfer RNA
 Ribosomal RNA

Biochemistry
There are four main  Adenine (A) bases in nucleic acids:  Guanine (G)
 Thymine (T)
 Cytosine (C)
But…in RNA, Thymine is replaced with…
 Uracil (U)

Biochemistry
 Now play the Jeopardy game (link on websites for Biochemistry webquest)
 Write out a summary of the question with the answer on your chart.