The Chemical Level of Organization (part 2)

fudge

Macromolecules

Big molecules that we would find in our system

Carbohydrates

Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Monosaccharides

One sugar, building blocks of carbohydrates. A single ring of 5/6 carbon atoms

Glucose

The monosaccharide that our body uses for fuel, and is also known as “blood sugar”. The body converts other monosaccharides into glucose. Produces ATP

Disaccharides

“Double sugars.” Formed when 2 monosaccharides are joined together. Must be broken down into simple sugars before they can be absorbed into the blood from digestive tract

Disaccharides examples

Sucrose (glucose +fructose) cane sugar

Lactose (glucose + galactose) found in dairy

Polysaccharides

Long branching chains linking simple sugars that are useful to store sugars

Polysaccharides examples

Starch, found in plants

Glycogen, found in animal/human tissue, such as skeletal muscles and liver

Primary role of carbohydrates

Source of energy

Glycogen

Excess blood glucose, used for storing energy for later use

Lipids

Fats, insoluble in water but are soluble in other fats

Triglycerides

Most abundant concentrated source of usable energy for the body. Storage for this is under the skin and around organs for insulation and protection of the body

Phospholipids

Form cell membranes, hydrophobic vs. hydrophilic sections. Polar head group (hydrophilic) and nonpolar tails (hydrophobic). In watery environment, automatically line up with heads facing water on either side and tails hiding away from the water.

Steroids (type of lipid)

Flat molecules from 4 interlocking carbon rings

Cholesterol

Most important steroid. Bile salts are a by product from this, which are required for fat digestion and absorptoin

Steroid (hormone)

Essential for the body

Saturated fats

Solid at room temperature, no bend legs

Unsaturated fat

Liquid at room temperature, has a kink in the leg

Hydrophilic

Water loving

Hydrophobic

Fears water

Proteins

Most abundant organic components of the human body and have the most varied functions. Contains nitrogen, which separates them from being a carbohydrate or a lipid.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins. 20 different kinds.

What does a chain of <50 amino acids mean

It’s a polypeptide

What does a chain of >50 amino acids mean

It’s a protein

What does a chain of 50 to thousands of amino acids mean

Large, complex proteins

Protein example of structure

Collagen, found in all connective tissue, most abundant protein in the body. Responsible for the tensile strength of bones, tendons, and ligaments. Its function is mechanical support.

Protein example of enzyme

An enzyme essential for virtually every biochemical reaction in the body. Disaccharidases hydrolyze disaccharides

Protein examples for transport

Moving substances. Hemoglobin transports oxygen in blood

Protein examples of contractile

Movement, Actin and myosin cause muscle cell contraction and function in cell division in all cell types

Protein examples of Communication

Transmitting signals. Insulin (a protein) acts as a receptor to regulate blood sugar levels.

Protein example of Defense

Protect against disease. Antibodies released by certain immune cells are specialized proteins that bind and inactivate foreign substances

Protein shapes

Made up of chains of amino, bonded by peptide bonds