Biological Molecules

Carbon

• 4 single valence e-

• tetravalent

• chains of this are skeletons to organic compounds

• key to molecular function

  • Functional groups = R

Hydrocarbons

• carbon and hydrogen

• nonpolar, uncharged

• hydrophobic and insoluble in H2O

Functional Groups

Different ones change molecular function

Hydroxyl

• R-OH

• alcohol

• polar

• hydrophilic

• neutral in acidity

Carbonyl

• aldehyde/ketone

• CHO

• polar

• hydrophilic, but less than OH

• neutral normally 

Carboxyl

• R-COOH

• H+ easily released

• polar

• hydrophilic

• acidic

Amino

• R-NH2

• H+ easily accepted

• polar

• hydrophilic

• base

  • makes up protein (in some form of everything needed for life)

Phosphate

• R- H2PO4

• often contains charge

• polar

• hydrophilic

• acid

• ex: RNA and DNA

Methyl Group

• R-CH3

• nonpolar

• hydrophobic

• neutral

• control of gene expression

  • shape and function of sex hormones(estrogen and testerone)

Macromolecules 

Include Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids

Monomers

Building blocks of macromolecules, if they are joined, they form polymers

Dehydration synthesis

removes H2O and joins enzymes using dehydrogenase

Hydrolysis

Adds a water and breaks enzymes us as Hydrolase

Carbohydrates 

• functions as energy or structural support depending on monomer type and types of glycosidic linkages

Polysaccharides

• Polymers which fuel and build materials

• more than 2 monomers in a chain

Disaccharide

2 monomers

Monosaccharides

• monomer is glucose(sugar) → that have a linear and ring form with either ⍺ of β glucose

Glycosidic linkage

covalent bond between monosaccharides

Lipids

• NOT polymers

• hydrophobic mostly hydrocarbons

Fats

• energy storage

  • consists of glycerol(3 carbon alcohol w/ 3 -OH)

  • 1,2, or 3 fatty acids