B1.1 Carbohydrates and Lipids

Unique chemical properties of carbon

Ability to make covalent bonds - makes structures strong enough to support life

Each Carbon can have 4 bonds

Can form chains (fatty acids have up to 20 carbon atoms)

Single covalent bonds allow carbon to rotate without moving in space

Methane

CH4

Methyl

CH3

Condensation reaction

Linking a monomer to polymer

Smaller molecule (H2O is released)

Carb monomers

Fructose, glucose, ribose, galactose

FGG

Carb polymers

Starch, cellulose, Glycogen

SCG

Types of linkages in carbs

Aloha glucose and beta glucose

Alpha vs beta glucose

Alpha - has hydroxyl group on same side (makes branched helix)

Beta - has hydroxyl group on opposite sides (makes straight chain)

Monosaccharides

simple sugars

Glucose

Importance of hydrolysis

Big carbs can become little carbs to be used for cellular respiration.

Enables sugars to enter bloodstream

Properties of glucose

Stable

Soluble

Yields energy when oxidized - substrate for respiration

examples of polysaccharides

Amylose - starch in plants

• unbranched helical (1-4 bonds only)

• Storing lots of glucose w/o cell swell (osmosis)

Amylopectin - starch in plants

• easier to add/remove glucose

• Branched (1-4 and 1-6)

• Storing lots of glucose w/o cell swell (osmosis)

Glycogen - complex sugar in animals

• branches (1-4 and 1-6)

• Very large (complex sugar)

• Storing lots of glucose w/o cell swell

• more branches than amylopectin

Structure of cellulose for function

Alternating B-glucose makes straight chain so molecules can be parallel.

Bundles of cellulose chains = microfibrils which have high tensile strength

Hydroxyl groups regularly spaces between, allows many H bonds

Covalent bonds and cross links of molecules = high tensile strength

Glycoproteins and why they allow cell-cell recognition

Proteins with carbohydrates attached

Attached to membrane, other cells receptors find the carbohydrate on the outside

Foreign cell detection, antibodies, blood type

Structure of phospholipids

Phosphate head = hydrophilic

Fatty acid tails = hydrophobic

What the fuck is a triglyceride

Glycerol + 3 fatty acids

Condensation reaction forms ester bond between glycerol and fatty acids

Hydrocarbon chain

Chain of carbon with hydrogen covalently bonded

Examples of lipids in real life

Oils, fats, waxes, steroids

Why the fuck are triglycerides good at energy storage

many stored together = adipose

Chemically stable, no loss over time

Insoluble with water

energy can be stored in half the mass, good for animals movement

Poor conductors of heat, good thermoregulators

Liquid @ room temp, shock absorption (like around kidney)

Identifying features of steroids

A group of lipids

4 carbon rings