BIOL 100 Topic 3 - Carbon Chemistry

Organic Molecules

Carbon-based molecules that are found in living organisms

Carbon

Element that forms the backbone of organic molecules due to its four bonding sites

Macromolecules

Large molecules made by joining many smaller molecules (monomers) together

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together

Monomer

Small building-block molecule that can join with others to form a polymer

Dehydration Reaction

Chemical reaction that links monomers by removing a molecule of water

Hydrolysis

Chemical reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; used as a source of energy

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose) that are the monomers of carbohydrates

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates made of two monosaccharides linked by a dehydration reaction (e.g., sucrose)

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made of many monosaccharides (e.g., starch, cellulose, glycogen)

Starch

A polysaccharide used by plants to store energy

Glycogen

A polysaccharide used by animals to store energy in liver and muscles

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls

Lipids

Hydrophobic organic molecules including fats, oils, waxes, and steroids

Fat (Triglyceride)

A lipid made from glycerol and three fatty acids; stores energy

Saturated Fat

Fat with no double bonds in fatty acid chains; solid at room temperature

Unsaturated Fat

Fat with one or more double bonds; liquid at room temperature

Phospholipid

A lipid with a phosphate group; forms cell membranes with hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings (e.g., cholesterol)

Proteins

Polymers of amino acids that perform many functions in cells including catalysis, structure, and transport

Amino Acids

Monomers of proteins; each has a central carbon, amino group, carboxyl group, and side chain (R group)

Peptide Bond

Covalent bond that links amino acids in a protein

Polypeptide

Long chain of amino acids that makes up proteins

Protein Structure

Levels include primary (sequence), secondary (folding), tertiary (3D shape), and quaternary (multiple chains)

Denaturation

Process in which a protein loses its shape and function due to heat, pH, or chemicals

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules that store genetic information (DNA and RNA)

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)

Double-stranded nucleic acid that stores genetic information

RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)

Single-stranded nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids; consists of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base