Chapter 4 – Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Continuing up the Hierarchy…
Fig. 1.1
Chapter 4 – Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
Each level of the hierarchy gets
relatively less and less complex.
Think about it. Protons, neutrons and electrons can combine in an infinite number of ways to make an infinite
number of elements, but they don’t. There are only 115 known elements, and to make it simpler, only 88 occur
naturally. To make it even more simpler, life could use these 88 elements, but it doesn’t. Life only uses 25 of them,
and really only 11 in any considerable amount. Of these 11, 4 (CHON) make up 96% of the mass. Simpler and simpler.
Now as you can imagine, these 25 elements could combine to form an infinite number of molecules making like
extremely complex, but guess what…they don’t and this is what you will see in chapter 3.
Chapter 4 – Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
The element that life is based on?
Life is based on carbon. Why? Take the four major elements on life. Start
with hydrogen and see how many different structures (molecules) you can
make… You can make one – H2 – that will not work.
Now try oxygen. You can make one – O2 – that won’t work.
Perhaps nitrogen? Nope, one molecule again…– N2.
Now try carbon.
Carbon can make four bonds and will not quadruple bond to itself. Therefore you can make an infinite
number of structures without a dead end; the structures of life. You can also attach all the other elements
(H,N,O,S,P,etc…) to the carbons.
Chapter 4 – Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
NEW AIM: Why Carbon?
Why is carbon able to make four covalent bonds?
Because it needs four valence electrons and will
satisfy that need by sharing 4 electrons with other
atoms.
Chapter 4 – Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
The study of carbon-based compounds?
Organic Chemistry
Organic chemistry is the field of chemistry that focuses on organic molecules. Organic molecules are molecules
that contain BOTH Carbon and Hydrogen. They are produced NATURALLY SOLELY by organisms. We can make them
“synthetically” in laboratories. Therefore, organic chemistry is the study of carbon/hydrogen based molecules,
the molecules made and used by life.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Is CO2 an organic molecule?
No, because hydrogen is not present.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Could organic compounds have been synthesized abiotically on
the earth Earth as to later allow life to evolve?
Chapter
4 – Carbon
thelife
Molecular
of Life
NEW AIM:
Howand
did
beginDiversity
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
Earth’s Beginning
4.6 Billion years ago
1. Earth coalesces from the
stellar nebula (the great
bombardment)
Chapter
4 – Carbon
thelife
Molecular
of Life
NEW AIM:
Howand
did
beginDiversity
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
2. Cooling Down
Crust begins to solidify.
(no atmosphere
yet, too hot.)
Chapter
4 – Carbon
thelife
Molecular
of Life
NEW AIM:
Howand
did
beginDiversity
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
3. Formation of the atmosphere
-Gases belched out from within
the Earth punching holes in the
crust (volcanoes; vents)
Early Atmosphere:
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
-Nitrogen (N2)
- Water H2O
- Methane (CH4)
- Ammonia (NH3)
- Hydrogen (H2)
Atmosphere, but no oceans, still way too hot to have liquid water.
Chapter
4 – Carbon
thelife
Molecular
of Life
NEW AIM:
Howand
did
beginDiversity
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
4. Formation of the Oceans
-Earth continues to cool…
- water begins to condense
- Torrential rain
- Lightning
- The oceans form
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
So life appeared somewhere
between the end of the great
bombardment (4Bya) and the
oldest known fossil (3.5Bya).
Conclusion (How long did it take for life to develop?):
<500 million years for life to appear!!
Fig. 16.1C
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
So how did life begin?
What is required for there to be life as we
know it?
ORGANIC MOLECULES (monomers)
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
Haldane
Oparin
1920s
- Oparin and Haldane first proposed that the Early conditions on
Earth were sufficient to generate organic molecules.
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
Haldane
Oparin
How would you test this hypothesis?
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
1953
- Stanley Miller
- 23 year old grad student in the
laboratory of Harry Urey at the
University of Chicago
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
Miller-Urey Experiment = early Earth simulation
After one week:
Found organic compounds
- amino acids (abundant)
Since then:
Amino acids
Sugars
Lipids
Fig. 16.3B
Chapter
4 – Carbon
and begin
the Molecular
Diversity of Life
AIM: How
did life
on Earth?
AIM: Why Carbon?
Conclusion:
Conditions on early Earth may
have been sufficient to produce
the organic molecules of life.
Does that mean you have life?
No, just organic molecules.
Such experiments ruled out the
idea of vitalism…
The belief that a “life force” outside the laws of physics
and chemistry was required to make organic
molecules. Basically, organic molecules could only be
made by living organisms.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
The simplest organic molecule and three-dimensionality
The simplest organic molecule, methane (CH4). Notice how molecules are 3-Dimensional. When carbon attaches to
four other atoms, a tetrahedral shape (three-sided pyramid with the carbon atom at the center) will be formed
as the electrons in the bonds repel each other.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Figure 4.3. The shapes of simple organic molecules.
tetrahedral
planar
When 2 carbons are joined by a double bond as in (c), all bonds attached to these carbons are
in the same plane (planar).
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Drawing three-dimensionally:
Make sure you can draw molecules this way
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Drawing skeletal formula:
=
Skeletal formula
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Examples
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Hydrocarbons
The organic molecules on the right as well as
methane are all hydrocarbons. A
HYDROCARBON is any molecule made of ONLY
hydrogen and carbon.
Carbon skeleton
The chains, branches and/or rings of carbon
atoms that form the basis of the structure
of an organic molecule.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
The molecular formula does not necessarily tell you the
structural formula…explain.
C4H10
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
C4H10
C4H8
1. Structural (constitutional) isomers
Not to be confused with isotopes, structural isomers are molecules with the same molecular formula, but there
atoms are connected differently (Different connectivity) resulting in different structural formula. Structure
determines function and therefore structural isomers function or behave differently.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Cis
Trans
X represents an atom or group of atoms attached to the double-bonded carbon, but of
course is not hydrogen as hydrogen would result in these two molecules being identical.
Example:
Cis-2-butene
Trans-2-butene
2. Geometric isomers
Have the same connectivity, but differ in their spatial arrangement resulting in different 3D structures…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
=
Are these isomers?
No. Recall that single bonds can rotate.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
≠
What if we place a double bond between the carbons?
Then yes, they are isomers since double/triple bonds cannot rotate.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Cis
Trans
Cis (“on the same side” – latin) - results when the substituent groups (X) are on the same side.
Trans (“across” – latin) - results when the substituent groups (X) are on opposite sides.
2. Geometric isomers
Have the same connectivity, but differ in their spatial arrangement resulting in different 3D structures…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Cis
ISOMERS
Trans
PRACTICE:
trans
cis
cis
trans
2. Geometric isomers
Have the same connectivity, but differ in their spatial arrangement resulting in different 3D structures…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Trans-oleic acid (a trans fat)
PRACTICE:
cis-oleic acid
2. Geometric isomers
Have the same connectivity, but differ in their spatial arrangement resulting in different 3D structures…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Are these two molecules isomers?
No. If you turn the one on the right so that the amino group (NH2) faces you, it will look identical to the one on the
left. These two molecules are the same.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
What about now?
You can try all you like. You will not be able to get these two molecules to overlap each other. They are mirror
images like your hands. Try to overlay your hands…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
mirror
What about now?
You can try all you like. You will not be able to get these two molecules to overlap each other. They are mirror
images like your hands. Try to overlay your hands…
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
mirror
3. Enantiomers
Molecules that are mirror images of each other (cannot be overlayed and therefore have different spatial
arrangments). What property of these molecules causes this to happen you ask?
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Asymmetric carbon
3. Enantiomers – the asymmetric carbon
This can happen only when there is an asymmetric carbon = a carbon with four DIFFERENT groups attached to it.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Identify the asymmetric carbon(s) in the molecule above.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Asymmetric carbon
D-isomer
L-isomer
3. Enantiomers – L and D
We designate such mirror image molecules as either L- or D- from the latin for left and right (levo and dextro). In biology only
one form is the active form. For example, all amino acids are L-isomers, while all sugars are D-isomers.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
ISOMERS
Used/Found in biological organisms
Not used/found in biological organisms
3. Enantiomers – L and D
We designate such mirror image molecules as either L- or D- from the latin for left and right (levo and dextro). In biology only
one form is the active form. For example, all amino acids are L-isomers, while all sugars are D-isomers.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Thalidomide, an extreme example of isomers…what type?
R-thalidomide is an incredible antiemetic (inhibits nausea and vomiting). When would such a drug be used?
After getting anesthesia, chemotherapy or any drug that causes nausea, but also for morning sickness when pregnant.
Thousands of pregnant women took this drug (molecule) in the late 50’s early 60’s to treat morning sickness, but
what scientists didn’t realize was when this molecule was made in the lab, a second molecule was inadvertently
made… S-thalidomide, an enantiomer of R-thalidomide.
S-thalidomide, unfortunately, is a teratogen (teros; greek for monster, -gen; creation of).
A teratogen is a molecule that causes birth defects.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Thalidomide, an extreme example of isomers behaving differently
The birth defects caused by the teratogen Sthalidomide, which was inadvertently taken with Rthalidomide to treat morning sickness symptoms
Conclusion
Just because two molecules have the same molecular
formula and may even have the same connectivity, if
they can’t be overlaid on top of each other, they aren’t
the same.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Find the structural isomers
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM: Why Carbon?
Summary:
Fig. 4.7
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
can we
make hydrocarbons reactive at biological temperatures?
AIM:How
Why
Carbon?
Look at this hydrocarbon. Predict how reactive these kinds of molecules will be at ROOM
TEMPERATURE or BODY TEMPERATURE and how readily it will dissolve in water. Explain your
rationale.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
How can we make hydrocarbons more reactive with
each other and water friendly at the same time to
make them useful building blocks of life
?
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
NEW
AIM:
canhydrocarbons
we make hydrocarbons
more reactive
and
AIM: How
canHow
we make
reactive at biological
temperatures?
soluble?
Make them “sticky”
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
wewe
make
hydrocarbons
reactive
biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
Howcan
can
make
hydrocarbons
moreatreactive
and
soluble?
By adding highly electronegative
elements (O, N, S, etc…), we can give
the molecules partial and full
charges.
Functional groups are specific groups
of atoms within molecules that are
responsible for the characteristic
chemical reactions of those
Functional group
(polar or charged)
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
We will now review the six most common functional groups. You need to know (be able to draw/identify) all six.
1. The hydroxyl group
-If you see a structural diagram of a molecule and hanging off one end is –OH, it implies that the oxygen and hydrogen are
attached by a covalent bond. Another example would be something like –CH3 which means the three hydrogens are
covalently bound to the carbon (there is no other possibility).
- Obviously the oxygen is partially negative and the hydrogen is partially positive due to differences in electronegativity
- Compounds that have a hydroxyl are typically called alcohols. The example shown is ethanol (drinking alcohol), but there
are countless others from the familiar isopropanol to the less common tert-butanol.
- Notice that the names of alcohols typically end in –ol.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
2. Carbonyl Group
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
2. Carbonyl Group
- It is simply a carbon DOUBLE-BONDED to an oxygen where the oxygen is partial negative and the carbon partial positive
- If the carbonyl is found at the end of a carbon skeleton, the resulting compound (molecule) is called an aldehyde. If at the
end of the molecule, the carbon will always be attached to a hydrogen (hence the “hyde” part of aldehyde). Such
compound names will usually end in –al like propanal (shown above).
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
2. Carbonyl Group
- If the carbonyl is found within the carbon skeleton (not at the end), the resulting compound (molecule) is called a ketone.
The names of such compounds typically end in –one like acetone (shown above).
- The carbon of the carbonyl will be attached to two other carbons making a letter “T”, which rhymes with “key”. This is
how I once remembered what a ketone – ketone has the letter T in it and T rhymes with key.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
The next functional group can be formed by adding the hydroxyl group to the carbonyl group…
+
=
Carbonyl Hydroxyl
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
3. Carboxyl Group
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
3. Carboxyl Group
- A carboxyl group is always at the end of a carbon skeleton since it always has a hydrogen attached to the oxygen (you
can’t add anymore carbons.
Both oxygens pull the electrons from the hydrogen making the
- How tightly do you think that hydrogen NUCLEUS is being held?? hydrogen nucleus (proton) fall off VERY easily
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
3. Carboxyl Group
- What do you call a molecule that will lose a proton (hydrogen ions) to the solution it is in? You call it an ACID
- This is why compounds (molecules) with a carboxyl group are called carboxylic acids and are acids in general. When the
proton falls off, the oxygen will become negative (it gets the hydrogen’s electron).
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
4. Amino Group
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
Amino groups are always at the ends of carbon skeletons and compounds containing them are called amines. The hydrogens
are obviously partial positive and the nitrogen partial negative in charge. Amino groups can act as a base picking up a proton:
-NH2
+
H+

-NH3+
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
phosphate
H2PO4
sulfhydryl
-SH
Above are two additional functional groups you need to add to memory not found in the chart in your book. The phosphate
group and the sulfhydryl group.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
phosphate
H2PO4
5. Phosphate group
-Look at those hydrogen nuclei…are they held tightly?
-compounds containing this group (organic phosphates) are typically acidic because those protons fall off into solution
decreasing the pH. The oxygens of the phosphate will become negative when this happens.
- Molecules that typically have this group are nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, nucleotides) and phosphlipids
- Look at the picture above. When you see something connected to an “R”, the “R” is the organic molecule.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
sulfhydryl
-SH
6. Sulfhydryl group
- The sulfur is partial negative and the hydrogen partial positive for reasons you should know
- This group is typically found in proteins
- Molecules containing –SH are called thiols
**Two sulfhydryl groups can interact forming a covalent bond known as a disulfide bridge in proteins.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
SUMMARY
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
Find the functional groups…
You should be able to find one carbonyl
group and five hydroxyl groups.
What type of compound is this?
Based solely on what you have learned
thus far, you should respond by saying it
is both an aldehyde because the carbonyl
is at the end of a carbon skeleton and
attached to a hydrogen, and an alcohol
because of the hydroxyl groups…
(Don’t worry about the red numbers…yet; this is glucose)
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
Find the functional groups…
You should be able to find a carboxyl group (be careful, there is no carbonyl or hydroxyl group), an amino group
and a sulfhydryl group.
This is an amino acid.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
Draw an organic molecule
containing an amino group and
a carboxyl group.
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate
What can we say about this molecule?
1. It is composed of a ribose sugar, three negative phosphates, and an adenine base
2. It’s an RNA nucleotide
3. Primary energy carrying molecule of the cell – fuel for proteins to do work / accelerate matter
How is the energy stored in this molecule?
Chapter
and the Molecular
Chapter43–- Carbon
The Molecules
of Cells Diversity of Life
AIM:
cancan
we make
hydrocarbons
reactivemore
at biological
temperatures?
AIM:How
How
we make
hydrocarbons
reactive?
ATP
Adenosine Triphosphate
How is the energy stored in this molecule?
- Look at the phosphates…what is their charge?
- They are negative and hence repel each other.
- Break the bond between phosphates via hydrolysis and…bam…the gun fires. ATP is a loaded gun. The
phosphate will accelerate onto a protein.