The most important biological compounds are polymers
Polymers (poly = many)
 The polymers are: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids (fats),
and nucleic acids (DNA/RNA).
 A polymer is made up of a chain of many
monomers linked together
MONOMERS (mono = one)
Monomers are: amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, and
nucleotides.
These are made (dehydration synthesis) or broken down
(hydrolysis) over and over in living cells.
macromolecules
Large polymers are also called _______________
Macromolecules are formed by
joining monomers
_________________,
usually
by reactions involving the loss
of water =
DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS
________________________.
MONOMERS are
____________
joined together
during dehydration
synthesis.
Chains of monomers
are called POLYMERS
_________
Note: enzymes that
speed up dehydration
synthesis reactions
are called
dehydrogenases
_____________.
HYDROLYSIS
The breaking of a polymer into units is ______________
(i.e. done by adding water to polymer).
Note: enzymes that
speed up hydrolysis
reactions are called
hydrolases
__________
http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/dehydrat/dehydrat.html
Monomers (sub units)
Polymers
Polymers
a)
b)
c)
d)
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Hydrolysis
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Hydrolysis
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a)
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b)
c)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b)
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c)
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d)
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
Dehydration
Synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d) Nucleotides
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
These reactions require:
Dehydration
Synthesis
1.
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d) Nucleotides
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
These reactions require:
Dehydration
Synthesis
1. ATP energy
Hydrolysis
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d) Nucleotides
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
These reactions require:
Dehydration
Synthesis
1. ATP energy
2. Water
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d) Nucleotides
Hydrolysis
H2 O &
Energy
H2 O &
Energy
Polymers
a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Lipids (fats)
d) DNA/RNA (nucleic acids)
These reactions require:
Dehydration
Synthesis
1. ATP energy
2. Water
Hydrolysis
3. Enzymes
Monomers
a) Simple sugars
b) Amino Acids
c) Fatty Acids & Glycerol
d) Nucleotides
H2 O &
Energy
Where does the name come from?
Hydrated Carbons: (CH20)n
Carbohydrates have the empirical formula of (CH20)n where n =
the # of times the chain is repeated.
The carbons, hydrogens and oxygens are found in the ratio of
1:2:1 and are made up of a repeating chain of sugars.
(CH20)3 = C3H603
(CH20)6 = C6H1206
Sugars are also known as saccarides.
Carbohydrates usually end in ‘ose’.
Can you think of any examples?
The basic sugar molecule is GLUCOSE: C6 H12 O6.
Glucose has a ring structure.
Other monosaccharides include fructose, ribose, deoxyribose
6 sided =
HEXOSE
5 sided =
PENTOSE
C6 H12 O6
C6 H12 O6
When two sugars bind together via DEHYDRATION
SYNTHESIS a disaccharide is formed.
glucose + glucose forms the sugar maltose
glucose + fructose forms the sugar sucrose
galactose + glucose forms the sugar lactose
When many sugars bind together via dehydration synthesis
four types of polysaccharides may be formed:
• Starch
• Glycogen
• Cellulose
• Chitin
•
The cell walls of plants are made of cellulose
•
They are long chains of glucose molecules with no
side chains.
•
The linkage between the Carbon atoms of the sugars
is different than starch and glycogen
•
No mammal can break this bond
•
5. This is why we cannot digest cellulose = FIBRE.
• Plants store their energy as starch
• Starch is made up of many glucose molecules linked
together
• Starch has few side chains
•
Animals store their energy (extra glucose) as
glycogen
• We store glycogen in our liver and muscles
• Glycogen is made up of many glucose molecules
linked together
•
Glycogen has many side chains
•
Made by animals and fungi
•
Long glucose chains linked with
covalent bonds.
•
Very strong
•
Makes structures like exo-skeletons, fingernails,
claws, and beaks
1. Energy: when the bonds between Carbon atoms
are broken, the energy released can be used by
cells.
Carbohydrates are the primary
energy molecules for all life.
2. Structural: Cellulose is the
major structural compound in
plants (is used in the cell wall).
Lipids are made up of the elements C,H,O but in no set
ratio.
Lipids are large molecules that are insoluble in water.
Synthesis of a FAT animation:
http://www2.nl.edu/jste/lipids.htm
1. Composed of 3 fatty acids
bonded to 1 glycerol.
2. Fatty acids contain a long
chain of 16-18 Carbons
with an acid end.
3. Glycerol is a small 3
Carbon chain with 3
alcohol (OH) groups
4. These two molecules bind
together via dehydration
synthesis
1. Saturated fats:
There are no double bonds in the carbon chains of the
fatty acids.
The carbons are filled with hydrogens.
Unhealthy.
They mostly come from animals.
Become solid at room temperature.
Examples: lard, butter, animal fats…
2. Unsaturated fats:
There are one (monounsaturated) or more
double bonds (polyunsaturated).
Mostly come from plants.
They are liquid at room temperature.
Healthy
Examples: olive oil, corn oil, palm oil…
Are used to make up the two layered
cell membrane of all cells.
In phospholipids, the third fatty acid
group of a triglyceride is replaced by
an inorganic phosphate group (PO43-).
This creates a polar end:
The phosphate end is water soluble (hydrophilic)
The fatty acid is not water soluble (hydrophobic)
A liposome is an
artificially-prepared
vesicle composed of a
lipid bilayer. The
liposome can be used
as a vehicle for
administration of
nutrients and
pharmaceutical drugs.
Liposomes can be
prepared by disrupting
biological membranes
hydrophilic
hydrophobic
Steroids structurally look very different
from lipids, but are also water
insoluble.
They are made up of 4 Carbon ring
molecules fused together.
Examples: testosterone, estrogen,
cholesterol, and vitamin D.
Used as sex hormones
1. Long term storage for energy (more efficient
spacewise than glycogen or starch).
2. Insulation and protection in animals
3. Making some hormones (steroids)
4. Structure of cell membranes.
Without lipids, we would have no cells.
• Found in fish and leafy vegetables
• Other foods are now offering omega-3’s (eggs,
cereals, margarine…)
• Help to reduce cancer
• Helps with vision
• Helps us think better
Scientific evidence has shown
that dietary saturated and
trans fats can increase your
risk of developing heart
disease.