Basic Human Biochemistry

what is biochemistry

Biochemistry is the study of chemical composition and reactions of living matter

All chemicals either organic or inorganic

• Inorganic compounds

• Water, salts, gases, and many acids and bases

• Do not contain carbon PLUS hydrogen

• Water, salts, gases, and many acids and bases

• Inorganic compounds

• Do not contain carbon PLUS hydrogen

• Inorganic compounds

• Organic compounds

• Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids

• Contain carbon PLUS hydrogen, are usually large, and are covalently bonded

• Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids

• Organic compounds

• Contain carbon PLUS hydrogen, are usually large, and are covalently bonded

• Organic compounds

• Most abundant inorganic compound 

  • Accounts for 60%–80% of the volume of living cells

water

most important inorganic compound due to its properties

water

•  High heat capacity

  • Ability to absorb and release heat with little temperature change

  • Prevents sudden changes in temperature

what inorganic compound is this?

water

• Ability to absorb and release heat with little temperature change

water

• Prevents sudden changes in temperature

water

•  High heat of vaporization

  • Evaporation requires large amounts of heat

  • Useful cooling mechanism

what inorganic compound is this?

Water

• Evaporation requires large amounts of heat

water

• Useful cooling mechanism

water

•  Polar (charged) solvent properties

  • Dissolves and dissociates ionic substances

  • Forms hydration (water) layers around large charged molecules

    • Example: proteins

  • Body’s major transport medium - blood

water

• Dissolves and dissociates ionic substances

water

• Forms hydration (water) layers around large charged molecules

  • Example: proteins

• Body’s major transport medium - blood

water

Necessary part of hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis reactions

waters reactivity

hydrolysis

water put into the reaction (catabolic)(exergonic)

dehydration

water is lost (anabolic)(endergonic)

• Protects certain organs from physical trauma

  • Example: cerebrospinal fluid cushions nervous system organs

water is cushioning

 ionic compounds that dissociate into separate ions in water

Salts

• Separate into cations (positively charged molecules) and anions (negatively charged)

  •  Not including H+ and OH- ions

salts

electrolytes

Chemical substances, such as salts, acids, and bases, that ionize and dissociate in water and are capable of conducting an electrical current in a solution

• All ions are called ________ because they can conduct electrical currents in solution

electrolytes

• ____ play specialized roles in body functions 

  • Example: sodium, potassium, calcium, and iron

Ions

Ionic balance is vital for ___________

homeostasis

_______ are proton donors: they release hydrogen ions (H+), bare protons (have no electrons) in solution 

• Example: HCl → H⁺ + Cl^–

Acids

_______ Are Proton acceptors: they pick up H+ ions in solution

• Example: NaOH → Na⁺ + OH^–

Bases

• When a _____ dissolves in solution, it releases a Hydroxyl ion (OH ^–)

Base

• measurement of concentration of hydrogen ions [H⁺] in a solution

pH scale

The more hydrogen ions in a solution makes the solution what?

more hydrogen ions in a solution,more acidic that solution

• Acidic solutions have high ____ but low ____ 

• Acidic solutions have high [H⁺] but low pH

Acidic pH range is _____

Acidic pH range is 0–6.99

Neutral solutions have equal numbers of___ and ___ ions

Neutral solutions have equal numbers of H⁺ and OH^– ions

All neutral solutions are pH __

All neutral solutions are pH 7

Pure _____ is pH neutral

Pure water is pH neutral

• pH of pure water = pH 7: [H⁺] = 10^–7 m

what is bloods pH range

• Blood PH: 7.35 -7.45

• Alkaline (basic) solutions have low ___ but high ___

• Alkaline (basic) solutions have low [H⁺] but high pH

Alkaline (basic) pH range is ______?

Alkaline pH range is 7.01–14

• Organic molecules contain ______ and _______

Organic molecules contain carbon and hydrogen

Organic molecules contain carbon and hydrogen but what are the exceptions?

• exceptions: CO₂ (carbon dioxide) and CO (carbon monoxide), which are inorganic

Carbon is ____________

Carbon is electroneutral

Shares electrons; never gains or loses them

• Carbon is electroneutral

Forms four covalent bonds with other elements

Carbon is electroneutral

Major organic compounds: ______,_______,______, and______

Major organic compounds: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Many organic compounds are _______

polymers

polymers

polymers are large molecules made by bonding many monomers together in a repeating chain

monomers

Monomers are small, simple molecules that act as individual building blocks

Chains of similar units called ________ (building blocks)

monomers

monomers are synthesized by _________ __________

dehydration synthesis

Synthesized by dehydration synthesis: (building)

a water molecule is “lost” as two molecules bond together

use water to breakdown polymers into monomers

hydrolysis reactions

• Broken down by hydrolysis reactions: (tearing apart)

a water molecule enters the reaction to “split” a larger molecule into two molecules, breaking the bond

• Carbohydrates include ______ and _______

• Carbohydrates include sugars and starches

Contain what 3 elements

• Carbon

• Hydrogen

• Oxygen

what are the 3 classes of carbohydrates?

• monosaccharides: one single sugar

  •  Monomers: smallest unit of carbohydrate

• Disaccharides: two sugars

• Polysaccharides: many sugars

  •  Polymers are made up of monomers of monosaccharides

• Simple sugars containing three to seven carbon atoms

• (CH₂O)_n: general formula

  • n = number of carbon atoms

Monosaccharides

• Monomers of carbohydrates

Monosaccharides

what class of carbohydrate is  Pentose sugars and  Hexose sugars

Monosaccharides

Ribose (RNA) and deoxyribose(DNA) is a ________ sugar?

 Pentose sugars

Glucose (blood sugar) is a ________ sugar?

 Hexose sugars

Double sugars

Disaccharides

Too large to pass through cell membranes

disaccharides, and Polysaccharides

what are the 3 Important disaccharides?

Sucrose, maltose, lactose

• Formed by dehydration synthesis of two monosaccharides

  • glucose + fructose → sucrose + water

Disaccharides

Polymers of monosaccharides

Polysaccharides

Formed by dehydration synthesis of many monomers

Polysaccharides

carbohydrate storage form used by plants

Starch

carbohydrate storage form used by animals

Glycogen

• Important polysaccharides

• Starch: carbohydrate storage form used by plants

• Glycogen: carbohydrate storage form used by animals

• Both Multiple glucoses ^

Contain C, H, O, but less than in carbohydrates, and sometimes contain P

Lipids (fats oils)

Insoluble in water

Lipids (fats oils)

what are the three main types of Lipids (fats oils)

• Triglycerides or neutral fats 

• Phospholipids 

•  Steroids (hormones)

Called fats when solid and oils when liquid

 Triglycerides or neutral fats

Composed of three fatty acids bonded to a glycerol molecule

 Triglycerides or neutral fats

• Main functions

  • Energy storage, insulation, and protection

Triglycerides or neutral fats

Triglycerides can be constructed of:

•  Saturated fatty acids

•  Unsaturated fatty acids

• Trans fats

• Omega-3 fatty acids

• All carbons are linked via single covalent bonds, resulting in a molecule with the maximum number of H atoms (saturated with H)

 Saturated fatty acids

• Solid at room temperature (Example: animal fats, butter, cheese, milk)

 Saturated fatty acids

One or more carbons are linked via double bonds, resulting in reduced H atoms (unsaturated with H)

 Unsaturated fatty acids

• Liquid at room temperature (Example: plant oils, such as olive oil)

 Unsaturated fatty acids

Trans fats – modified oils; unhealthy

 Unsaturated fatty acids

• Omega-3 fatty acids – “heart healthy”

 Unsaturated fatty acids

consists of a glycerol backbone with two fatty acids, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen-containing group.

Phospholipids

“Head” and “tail” regions have different properties

Phospholipids

• Head is a polar region and is attracted to water

Phospholipids

• Tails are non-polar and are repelled by water

Phospholipids

Consist of four interlocking ring structures

Steroids

4 Common steroids

•  cholesterol, vitamin D, steroid hormones, and bile salts (made by liver)

• Most important steroid is ________

Cholesterol

___________ Is a building block for vitamin D, steroid synthesis, and bile salt synthesis

and Important in cell plasma membrane structure

Cholesterol

Comprise 20–30% of cell mass

Proteins

• Have most varied functions of any molecules

  • Structural, chemical (enzymes), contraction (muscles)

Proteins

Contain C, H, O, N, and sometimes S and P (sulfur, phosphorus)

Proteins

• Polymers of amino acid monomers held together by peptide bonds (covalent bonds)

Proteins

Shape and function due to four structural levels

Proteins

All proteins are made from ___ types of amino acids

• All proteins are made from 20 types of amino acids

what are the two important functional groups of amino acids that all amino acids have

• Contain both an amine group and carboxylic acid group

• Can act as either an acid or base