Unit 1: Biomolecules & Cells

Biochemistry

The study of the chemicals of life

Macromolecules

Large groups of chemicals made of smaller units

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain a Carbon

Inorganic Molecules

Molecules that do NOT have a Carbon

Monomer

The smallest part of a biomolecule (building block)

Polymer

Large molecules made up of many monomers joined together

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining monomers to make polymers

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers

4 Types of Biomolecules

Lipids, Nucleic Acids, Carbohydrates, Proteins

Carbohydrates Function

Provide short

Carbohydrates Structure

Contains C, H, O in a 1:2:1 ratio; ring structure

Carbohydrate Monomer

Monosaccharide (Single sugar ring)

Carbohydrate Polymer

Disaccharide (2 rings) or Polysaccharide (Many rings)

Monosaccharide Examples

Glucose, Fructose

Disaccharide Example

Sucrose

Polysaccharide Examples

Starch, Cellulose

The Ring Rule

1 ring = Monosaccharide; 2 rings = Disaccharide; 3+ rings = Polysaccharide

Starch Shape

Coiled or branched spiral structure

Cellulose Shape

Straight, stacked lines (plant cell walls)

Lipids Function

Long

Lipids Structure

Hydrophobic molecules made of glycerol and fatty acids (CHO)

Triglycerides

1 glycerol + 3 fatty acid chains (fat storage)

Saturated Lipids

Single bonds only; straight chains; solid at room temp

Unsaturated Lipids

Double bonds present; kinked chains; liquid at room temp

Phospholipid Bilayer

Double layer of lipids making up the cell membrane

Hydrophilic Head

Water

Hydrophobic Tail

Water

Steroids

Lipids with four fused rings (e.g., Cholesterol, Testosterone)

Proteins Monomer

Amino Acids (20 types)

Peptide Bond

Bond connecting amino acids

Protein Elements

C, H, O, N (Nitrogen)

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up reactions by lowering activation energy

Active Site

Region on enzyme where substrate binds

Denaturing

Loss of enzyme shape/function due to heat or pH

Nucleic Acids Function

Store genetic information

Nucleic Acids Monomer

Nucleotide

Nucleotide Parts

Phosphate, Sugar, Nitrogen Base

Cell Theory 1

All living things are made of cells

Cell Theory 2

Cells are the basic unit of life

Cell Theory 3

New cells come from pre

Prokaryote

No nucleus; No membrane

Eukaryote

Has nucleus; Has membrane

Endosymbiotic Theory

Mitochondria/Chloroplasts were once free

Nucleus

Controls cell activities; holds DNA

Mitochondria

Powerhouse; makes ATP via cellular respiration

Ribosome

Makes proteins (Protein Synthesis)

Rough ER

Folds proteins; has ribosomes

Smooth ER

Makes lipids; detoxifies; no ribosomes

Golgi Apparatus

Sorts and packages proteins

Lysosome

Digests waste and old parts

Chloroplast

Do photosynthesis (Plants only)