Organic Molecules and Biochemistry: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

Organic Compound

A molecule that contains carbon.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.

Lipids

Organic molecules made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen.

Proteins

Organic molecules made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur or Phosphorus).

Nucleic Acids

Organic molecules made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.

Reactants

The starting materials on the left side of an arrow in a chemical reaction.

Products

The new substances formed on the right side of an arrow in a chemical reaction.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process that builds large molecules from smaller ones by removing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

The process that breaks a large molecule into smaller ones by adding a water molecule.

Water's Polarity

Allows water to act as a universal solvent, building and breaking macromolecules and supporting chemical reactions.

Monomer of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharide, or simple sugar, with a general formula CH2O.

Simple Carbohydrates

Digest quickly, causing a rapid blood sugar spike, and have a basic structure of one or two sugar molecules.

Complex Carbohydrates

Digest slowly, providing a sustained release of energy, and have longer chains of sugar molecules.

Chemical Bonds and Energy

Bonds store chemical energy that is released when broken during cellular respiration.

Examples of Simple Carbohydrates

Sugars found in fruit like fructose, lactose, and table sugar, along with refined sugars in candy, soda, and syrup.

Examples of Complex Carbohydrates

Grains, vegetables with starch like potatoes or corn, or legumes like beans, lentils, and peas.

Monomer of Lipids

Fatty acids, which are long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group, and sometimes glycerol.

Saturated Fatty Acids

Found in animal products like red meat and butter, increase bad cholesterol, and are solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Found in sources like olive oil, nuts, and fatty fish; healthier because they can help lower bad cholesterol.

Omega 3 fatty acids

Healthy fats essential for heart and brain health.

Trans fats

Unhealthy fats that increase bad cholesterol and have no known health benefits.

Oils

Unsaturated fatty acid chain monomer with at least one double bond between carbons.

Fats

Saturated fatty acid chain monomer with all single bonds in carbon/hydrogen chain.

Steroids

Composed of 4 interlocking hydrocarbon rings, they keep cell membranes fluid even in cold temperatures.

Phospholipids

Molecules that contain a polar and a nonpolar side, making up the cell membrane (phospholipid bilayer).

Wax

Protective molecules secreted by ears to protect against dirt/infections.

Nonpolar lipids

Lipids are nonpolar due to their structure being dominated by nonpolar carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds.

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a nitrogen-containing base, and deoxyribose (sugar).

DNA

Contains nucleobases cytosine, guanine, adenine, and thymine, and has a double helix/double-stranded sugar phosphate backbone.

RNA

Contains nucleobases cytosine, guanine, adenine, and uracil, usually single-stranded with a sugar phosphate backbone.

ATP

High energy molecule that releases energy when a bond is broken, converting food energy into usable energy.

ADP

Formed when a molecule of water breaks one of the high energy phosphate bonds in ATP.

Amino Acid

Monomer of proteins, containing C, H, O, N, and sometimes S or P.

Denaturation

Process where changing temperature or pH alters the shape of a protein, affecting its function.

Collagen

Protein that provides support in tissues.

Keratin

Structural protein found in hair and nails.

Lactase

Enzyme that breaks down lactose.

Insulin

Hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

Hemoglobin

Protein that transports oxygen in the blood.

Antibodies

Proteins that defend against pathogens.

Primary protein structure

Polypeptide chain linked by peptide bonds.

Secondary protein structure

Includes A-helix (coil) and beta pleated sheet (zigzag).

Tertiary protein structure

More folding that combines both A-helix and beta pleated sheets into a final structure.

Quaternary protein structure

Not all proteins have this structure; it consists of 2+ polypeptides, including hemoglobin.