Molecules to Metabolism

Metabolism

Sum of all enzyme catalysed reactions in an organism

Intracellular - within the cell

Extra cellular - outside the cell

Carbon

-the 15th most abundant element on earth

-forms 4 covalent bonds with other nonmetals

-covalent bonds produce strong compounds

-variety of bonds with variety of elements producing highly diverse properties and structures

Carbon can form double bonds and triple bonds (number of electron pairs two atoms are sharing)

Ethylene has double bonds

Acetylene has triple bond

Biochemical macromolecules

4 types: - carbohydrates -lipids - proteins -nucleic acids

All contain carbon

All are organic

Organic compounds: contain carbon and hydrogen atoms together

Macromolecules

Polymer: Large unit made up of smaller subunits

Monomer: subunits

Monomers are linked together to form polymers

Linkage occurs by condensation reaction aka dehydration synthesis

Dehydration synthesis is when water molecule is lost

Condensation Reaction

joining two monomers through removal of a water molecule

ANABOLIC: building things up

monomer + monomer = polymer + water

Hydrolysis

Opposite of condensation reaction

Uses water molecule to break down polymer

CATABOLIC : breaks down

Polymer + water —> monomer + monomer

Functional groups

positions on a molecule most likely to undergo a reaction

H and OH are often involved

C is not

6 functional groups

Hydroxyl

OH

Often found in alcohols

Sulfhydrl

SH

Amine / NH, NH2 , NH3

Carbonyl- C=O, C=OH

Phosphate - PO4-3

Bonding Capacity

Number of bonds an atom can form with a neighbouring atom —> or ionic charge

C-4

H-1

O-2

S-2 or 6

N-3 or 5

P - 5 (phosphate)