Biochemistry: Organic/Inorganic Compounds, Water Properties, pH, Organic Molecules, Proteins, Enzymes, Nucleic Acids

Biochemistry

chemical composition and reactions of living matter.

Inorganic Compounds

When dissolved in water, they disassociate/ionize.

Exceptions that contain carbon but are inorganic

H2CO3 = carbonic acid, HCO3- = bicarbonate.

Organic Compounds

compounds that contain carbon.

Organic Compounds Characteristics

Do not disassociate to form ions.

Examples of Organic Compounds in the Body

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.

Carbon Bonding

Carbon can form up to 4 covalent bonds.

Water

the most important of all bio compounds in our bodies (make up 60-80%).

High Heat Capacity

Water is very resistant in changes of temperature.

High Heat of Vaporization

Requires a lot of heat to turn into gas.

Universal Solvent

Compounds must be in solution (water) to be biologically active.

Polar and Ionic Substances

are water soluble (dissolve/dissociate in water).

Hydrolysis

addition of water, breaks the bond catabolic, exergonic.

Cushion

Water provides cushion in our bodies.

Solution

Solute dissolved in solvent.

Solute

what are we dissolving.

Solvent

what we are dissolving in.

Salts

anything that disassociates to produce cations (+) and anions (-).

Acids

chemical substances that when they dissociate, increase hydrogen ion concentration.

Proton Donors

Acids are proton donors.

Bases

substances that when they dissociate, decrease hydrogen ion concentration.

pH

the negative log of hydrogen ion concentration.

Acids and pH

Acids: below pH 7.

Bases and pH

Bases: above pH 7.

Neutral Solutions

Neutral: at pH 7.

Buffers

solutions that resist changes in pH by accepting or donating hydrogen ions.

Carbohydrates

include sugar and starches; primary molecule used for energy.

Energy Production

This is the primary form of molecule we use for energy.

Monosaccharides

Called simple sugars and consist of only 1 subunit.

Disaccharides

2 monosaccharides chemically joined by a dehydration synthesis/condensation (anabolic) reaction.

Polysaccharides

Really long chain carbohydrates called polymers.

Lipids

Exist as fat (solids at room temp) and oil (liquids at room temp).

Neutral fats (Triglycerides)

Function primarily as energy storage molecules.

Saturated Triglycerides

Come from animals; the kind we produce in our bodies and consume when we eat meat.

Unsaturated Triglycerides

Come from plants.

Polyunsaturated Triglycerides

Cause decreased cholesterol, and an unchanged risk of cardiovascular events.

Trans Fats

Oil that is solidified by adding hydrogen ions at double bond sites.

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Anti-inflammatory agent too (for allergies, arthritis onset).

Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Support the skin - skin health especially for the elderly.

Phospholipids

A single phosphate group attached to a glycerol along with 2 other fatty acids, making it a modified triglyceride.

Amphipathic

Having both polar and nonpolar portions.

Phospholipid bilayer

A structure formed by phospholipids aligning themselves to protect the fatty acid portion.

Steroids

Cholesterol derivatives with 4 interlocking rings of carbon.

Solubility in fats

Important for steroids as it allows them to pass across the plasma membrane.

Chemical signaling

Long distance or local signaling in the body, often referred to as hormones.

Testosterone

A hormone found in males.

Estrogen

A hormone found in females.

Progesterone

A hormone found in females.

Eicosanoids

Biologically active lipids that act as long distance or local signaling molecules.

Prostaglandins

A subclass of eicosanoids.

Leukotrienes

A subclass of eicosanoids.

Proteins

Make up 10-30% of the mass of a cell and have functional roles.

Amino acids

Composed of long chains that can be made into proteins, with 20 different types in the human body.

Peptide bond

A nitrogen-containing bond that binds amino acids together.

Essential amino acids

Amino acids that we cannot live without.

Primary structure

The linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary structure

Occurs when the primary structure starts to coil and zigzag due to interactions with neighboring amino acids.

Beta pleated sheet

A type of secondary structure that resembles fan folding.

Alpha Helix

A type of secondary structure that resembles a coil.

Tertiary structure

The 3D structure of a protein where coils are coiled further.

Quaternary structure

Only present in complex proteins made up of two or more subunits bound together.

Hemoglobin

An example of a protein with quaternary structure.

Structural proteins

Proteins that provide structures to body parts, such as collagen.

Regulatory proteins

Chemical messengers (hormones) that can turn body activities on and off.

Contractile proteins

Proteins that cause muscle contraction through interaction in muscle.

Immunological proteins

Proteins that function in the immune system, such as antibodies.

Transport proteins

Carrier molecules like hemoglobin that carry oxygen in the body.

Catalytic proteins

Enzymes that speed up chemical reactions necessary for life.

Denaturation

The loss of a protein's 3D shape, resulting in destruction of active sites.

Nucleic Acids

Composed of long chains of nucleotides, which include nitrogenous bases.

DNA

Double stranded nucleic acid with deoxyribose, found in the nucleus and mitochondria.

RNA

Single stranded nucleic acid with ribose, replaces thymine with uracil.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The functional currency of energy in the body, consisting of an adenine nucleotide bound to three extra phosphate groups.