Biochemistry

• Every organism is made up of either _______________ or inorganic compounds.

Organic Compounds:

• Occur naturally in living things.

• All organic compounds contain _________________.

– Ex. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids.

• Most contain ________________ and may contain _____________ and/or nitrogen or

other elements.

• Carbon bonds store a great deal of energy.

– C-C bonds are called covalent bonds and are very strong and require a lot of

energy to break.

• ____________________________ – single organic molecules

• ___________________ – macromolecules formed from many _____________________

linked together to form larger macromolecules

– Many _______________________ subunits joined together form the many types

of molecules of life.

• _________________ – A compound with the same _____________, different

arrangement of _________.

• Organic compounds are essential for life. They tend to be larger and more complex

Important Groups of Organic Compounds:

• ______________________________- sugars & starch

• ______________________________- fats, oils, & waxes

• ______________________________- made of amino acids, eg. meat

• ______________________________- genetic material, eg. RNA, DNA

Inorganic Notes - Inorganic compounds:

• Any compound that is not an organic molecule.

• Generally do not contain ___________________ and are often minerals or metals.

– Example: Ammonia (NH 3 ), Water (H 2 O)

– Exceptions examples: _______________ ______________ and Calcium

Carbonate

• Are vital components in vitamins and enzymes in living systems.

Importance of Water (an inorganic compound):

• Water permeates all living systems and is crucial to life.

• Carries the many nutrients through tissues to all living cells

• It is a universal ___________________, able to dissolve anything given enough time.

• Living systems require many chemicals that often must be dissolved in water to function

properly.

HSC 20 – Biochemistry Notes

2

Carbohydrate Notes

• Carbohydrates are composed of _________________, hydrogen, and ____________.

– General formula ________________________________ where “n” is a number

between 3 and 6.

– Note that the number of H is always _____________________ that of O for

carbohydrates.

• _________________________ are the simplest of sugars.

– They are the monomers that make up the larger more complex sugars called

________________________________ and ______________________________.

– Important monosaccharides include:

• ________________ (C 5 H 10 O 5 ),

• ________________ (C 6 H 12 O 6 ),

• ________________ (same formula but different structure than glucose = an

isomer).

• Carbohydrates function as: ________________________ energy storage (such as sugar)

– intermediate-term energy storage (starch for plants and glycogen for animals)

– structural components in cells

Lipids Notes

• Lipids are commonly referred to as ________________ (a type of lipid).

• Lipids: Are primarily _____________________ energy storage molecules that do not

dissolve readily in water.

– Store much more energy than an equivalent amount of

__________________________.

• Many animals and plants store fats as a reserve energy supply. Plants store

sugars as starch or oils (corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil).

– (Fats) act as _______________________ and cushioning agents (E.g. Buttocks)

– Are composed of three ___________________ acids bonded to a glycerol

molecule.

• saturated and unsaturated fats.

Saturated/Unsaturated Fats –

Saturated fats: are __________________ at room temperature (eg. butter).

• Fatty acids that contain no carbon-carbon double bonds

• Consumption of saturated fats is linked to heart disease and is likely a more important

factor than cholesterol.

Unsaturated fats: are ________________ at room temperature.

• Fatty acids that contain __________________ bonds

• May be ___________________ which forces oils to become solid at room temperature.

HSC 20 – Biochemistry Notes

3

Trans-fats: If unsaturated fats (oil) are constantly _____________________, like in fast food

French fry machines, cis bonds are changed to trans bonds.

• The reason this is of concern is that fatty acids with trans bonds are carcinogenic

(cancer-causing).

• Trans fatty acids cause cancer.

Cholesterol and Steroids Notes - Cholesterol and Steroids are types of lipids

• Both are natural and necessary substances for normal cell function.

• Cholesterol strengthens the fluid-like cell membrane, stiffening it for support.

– Excess cholesterol stiffens the cell membrane too much leading to many health

problems like atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

• Human steroids such as estrogen and testosterone act as sexual hormones in our

bodies.

Nucleic Acids Notes - Nucleic acids are very long molecules (polymers) composed of monomer

units called ____________________.

• Nucleotides are composed of a _____________________, a nitrogenous base, and a

_________________.

• The sugars come in two “flavours”: ________________________ or

_____________________.

• The main functions of the long sequence of nucleic acids are ______________________

storage (DNA), and ______________________ construction (RNA).

There are two types of nucleic acids: RNA and DNA.

• _______________________ is a single stranded nucleic acid that plays a role in coding

information for protein building.

• __________________________ is a double stranded molecule in the nucleus of the cell.

– A strand of DNA contains genes (areas that code for some aspect of the

organism.)

– DNA can be thought of as an instruction manual with 23 paired chapters called

________________________.

• We receive 23 chromosomes each from our father and mother.

• Genes on the chromosomes indicate specific instructions.

– DNA is organized as two complementary strands held together by hydrogen

bonds

Protein Notes - Proteins (also known as ____________________) are very important in living

systems as control and structural elements.

• Proteins are compounds that contain ________________, carbon, hydrogen and

oxygen.

• The building blocks of any protein are the _________________ _________________.

• Proteins are long ___________________ of amino acids linked together by peptide

bonds.

HSC 20 – Biochemistry Notes

4

– There are only 20 different amino acids make up the many possible protein

combinations.

• Examples of proteins include hormones and enzymes

Enzymes Notes - Enzymes are necessary for most chemical reactions that take place in the cell.

• Enzymes control reactions in the cell so the heat produced can be used by the organism

for useful work/energy. E.g. The 'burning' of glucose is controlled by enzymes.

• Enzymes act upon a _________________.

– The substrate may be a foreign protein (antigen) or it may be a nutrient that

requires digestion to be useful in the cell.

– Enzymes are __________________ to only one type of substrate.

• Enzymes usually end with the suffix “ase”.

– E.g. Sucrase breaks down sucrose, lipase – lipids, lactase – lactose, etc.

• Enzymes have specific ______________________________ that allow them to work

effectively.

– ____________________ (acidity or alkalinity) and ________________________

play a huge role in the effectiveness of enzymes.

Every organism is made up of either organic

or inorganic compounds.

Organic Compounds

Occur naturally in living things.

All organic compounds contain carbon.

Organic compounds are very important to

living systems and include carbohydrates,

proteins, fats, and nucleic acids.

Most contain hydrogen and may contain

oxygen and/or nitrogen or other elements.

Carbon bonds store a great deal of energy.

C-C bonds are called covalent bonds.

Covalent bonds are very strong and require a

lot of energy to break.

Many organic substances are single

molecules (monomers) that are linked

together to form larger macromolecules

(polymers).

Many monomer subunits joined together form

the many types of molecules of life.

Isomer – A compound with the same

formula, different arrangement of atoms.

Biochemistry

Organic Compounds Notes

Every organism is made up of either organic or inorganic compounds.

Organic Compounds:

Occur naturally in living things.

All organic compounds contain carbon.

Ex. carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids.

Most contain hydrogen and may contain oxygen and/or nitrogen or other

elements.

Carbon bonds store a great deal of energy.

C-C bonds are called covalent bonds and are very strong and require

a lot of energy to break.

Monomers – single organic molecules

Polymers – macromolecules formed from many monomers linked together

to form larger macromolecules

Many monomer subunits joined together form the many types of molecules of

life.

Isomer – A compound with the same formula, different arrangement of

atoms.

Inorganic Compounds

Any compound that is not an organic

compound is inorganic.

Inorganic compounds generally do not contain

carbon and are often minerals or metals.

Carbon Dioxide and other carbonate

compounds such as Calcium Carbonate are

exceptions.

Ammonia (NH3), a common waste product

produced by organisms, does not contain

carbon and therefore is inorganic.

Inorganic compounds are vital components in

vitamins and enzymes in living systems.

Water: An Important Inorganic

Compound

Water permeates all living systems and is

crucial to life.

It is a universal solvent, able to dissolve

anything given enough time.

Water acts as a solvent in living systems. A

solvent is the substance that is usually in the

larger amount when dissolving occurs.

The solute is the substance that is

dissolved.

Living systems require many chemicals

that often must be dissolved in water to

function properly.

Living cells could not carry the many

nutrients through tissues if it were not

for water.

Inorganic Notes

Inorganic compounds:

Any compound that is not an organic.

Generally do not contain carbon and are often minerals or metals.

Example: Ammonian (NH3), Water (H2O)

Exceptions examples: Carbon Dioxide and Calcium

Carbonate

Are vital components in vitamins and enzymes in living systems.

Importance of Water (an inorganic compound):

Water permeates all living systems and is crucial to life.

Carries the many nutrients through tissues to all living cells

It is a universal solvent, able to dissolve anything given enough

time.

Living systems require many chemicals that often must be

dissolved in water to function properly.

Organic Compounds

Organic compounds are essential for life.

They tend to be larger and more complex

Important Groups of Organic Compounds:

Carbohydrates- sugars & starch

Lipids- fats, oils, & waxes

Proteins- made of amino acids, eg. meat

Nucleic Acids- genetic material, eg. RNA,

DNA

Organic Compounds Continued

Organic compounds are essential for life. They

tend to be larger and more complex

Important Groups of Organic Compounds:

Carbohydrates- sugars & starch

Lipids- fats, oils, & waxes

Proteins- made of amino acids, eg. meat

Nucleic Acids- genetic material, eg. RNA, DNA

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides are the simplest of sugars.

They are the monomers that make up the larger more

complex sugars called disaccharides and

polysaccharides.

Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen,

and oxygen. Carbohydrates have the general formula

[CH2O] n where n is a number between 3 and 6. Note

that the number of H is always twice that of O for

carbohydrates.

Important monosaccharides include ribose (C5H10O5),

glucose (C6H12O6), and fructose (same formula but

different structure than glucose).

Carbohydrates function in short-term

energy storage (such as sugar)

As intermediate-term energy storage

(starch for plants and glycogen for

animals)

And as structural components in cells

(cellulose in the cell walls of plants and

many protists, and chitin in the

exoskeleton of insects and other

arthropods.)

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrate Notes

Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

General formula [CH2O] n where n is a number between 3 and 6.

Note that the number of H is always twice that of O for carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides are the simplest of sugars.

They are the monomers that make up the larger more complex sugars

called disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Important monosaccharides include:

ribose (C5H10O5),

glucose (C6H12O6),

fructose (same formula but different structure than glucose = an

isomer).

Carbohydrates function as:

short-term energy storage (such as sugar)

intermediate-term energy storage (starch for plants and glycogen for

animals)

structural components in cells

Lipids

Lipids are commonly referred to as fats

Fats are a type of lipid.

Lipids are primarily long- term energy storage

molecules that do not dissolve readily in

water.

Lipids store much more energy than an

equivalent amount of carbohydrates.

Many animals and plants store fats as a

reserve energy supply. Plants store sugars

as starch or oils (corn oil, peanut oil, canola

oil, and sunflower oil).

Fats also act as insulators and cushioning

agents.

The human body stores fats naturally to

protect high impact areas.

Our buttocks are a natural location for fat

storage.

Lipids are composed of three fatty acids

bonded to a glycerol molecule.

Lipids

You've probably heard of the terms saturated

and unsaturated fats.

Many potato chip manufacturers advertise

Zero Trans Fat, on their packaging. So

what?

What is a saturated, unsaturated, and trans

fat, etc.? Is one to imply that fat is bad?

Its time to get the skinny on fat.

Lipids

Lipids Notes

Lipids are commonly referred to as fats (a type of lipid).

Lipids:

Are primarily long- term energy storage molecules that do

not dissolve readily in water.

Store much more energy than an equivalent amount of

carbohydrates.

Many animals and plants store fats as a reserve energy

supply. Plants store sugars as starch or oils (corn oil,

peanut oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil).

(Fats) act as insulators and cushioning agents (E.g.

Buttocks)

Are composed of three fatty acids bonded to a glycerol

molecule.

saturated and unsaturated fats.

Fatty acids that contain no carbon-carbon double

bonds are termed saturated fatty acids; those that

contain double bonds are unsaturated fatty acids.

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature (eg.

butter).

Consumption of saturated fats is linked to heart

disease and is likely a more important factor than

cholesterol.

Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats may be hydrogenated which

forces oils to become solid at room temperature.

Saturated/Unsaturated Fats

Hydrogenation of oils makes our French fries

taste extra good. But... If oil is constantly

reused, like in fast food French fry machines,

more and more of the cis bonds are changed to

trans until significant numbers of fatty acids with

trans bonds build up.

The reason this is of concern is that fatty acids

with trans bonds are carcinogenic

(cancer-causing).

.

Notice in the image to the

left that a trans fatty acid

has the H bonds on the

opposite side of the

Carbon - Carbon double

bond.

That's it! Trans fatty

acids cause cancer. No

wonder the chip

manufacturers are

advertising trans fat free.

How many consumers do

you think knew this?

Now you do

Saturated/Unsaturated Fats

Notes

Saturated fats:

are solid at room temperature (eg. butter).

Fatty acids that contain no carbon-carbon double bonds

Consumption of saturated fats is linked to heart disease and is likely a more important

factor than cholesterol.

Unsaturated fats:

are liquid at room temperature.

Fatty acids that contain double bonds

May be hydrogenated which forces oils to become solid at room temperature.

Trans-fats:

If unsaturated fats (oil) is constantly reused, like in fast food French fry machines, cis

bonds are changed to trans bonds.

The reason this is of concern is that fatty acids with trans bonds are carcinogenic

(cancer-causing).

Trans fatty acids cause cancer.

Believe it or not, fat is good for you.

Approximately 30% of your daily intake

should be fat. However North Americans eat

like there is a shortage of food. Dinner

plates have increased size by 20% in the

last 30 years. If your grandparents have

plates they used a few decades ago you will

notice how small they are. So, if you eat

more calories than your body uses, no

matter what type of food they came from,

they are converted and stored in the most

efficient (densest) form...fat.

Cholesterol and Steroids

When mention of these two lipids in the news it is

usually negative. However, both are natural and

necessary substances for normal cell function.

Cholesterol strengthens the fluid like cell membrane,

stiffening it for support.

Excess cholesterol stiffens the cell membrane too

much leading to many health problems. Most

notably atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries.

Human steroids such as estrogen and testosterone

act as sexual hormones in our bodies.

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Cholesterol and Steroids Notes

Cholesterol and Steroids are types of lipids

Both are natural and necessary substances for normal cell

function.

Cholesterol strengthens the fluid-like cell membrane,

stiffening it for support.

Excess cholesterol stiffens the cell membrane too

much leading to many health problems like

atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)

Human steroids such as estrogen and testosterone act as

sexual hormones in our bodies.

Nucleic Acids

There are two types of nucleic acids: RNA and DNA.

RNA is a single stranded nucleic acid that plays a

role in coding information for protein building.

DNA is a double stranded molecule in the nucleus of

the cell.

A strand of DNA contains genes, areas that code for

some aspect of the organism.

DNA can be thought of as an instruction manual.

The DNA instruction manual has 23 paired chapters

called chromosomes.

We receive 23 chromosomes each from our father

and mother.

Nucleic Acids

Genes on the chromosomes

indicate specific instructions.

DNA is organized as two

complementary strands...

your hands are also

complementary items.

The bonds holding the

complementary strands

together are hydrogen

bonds.

Nucleotides

Nucleic acids are very long molecules

(polymers) composed of monomer units

called nucleotides.

The main functions of the long sequence of

nucleic acids are information storage (DNA),

and protein construction (RNA).

Nucleotides are composed of a sugar, a

nitrogenous base, and a phosphate.

The sugars come in two 'flavours' either

deoxyribose or ribose.

Nucleic Acids Notes

Nucleic acids are very long molecules (polymers) composed of monomer units

called nucleotides.

Nucleotides are composed of a sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate.

The sugars come in two 'flavours‘: deoxyribose or ribose.

The main functions of the long sequence of nucleic acids are information storage

(DNA), and protein construction (RNA).

There are two types of nucleic acids: RNA and DNA.

RNA is a single stranded nucleic acid that plays a role in coding information for

protein building.

DNA is a double stranded molecule in the nucleus of the cell.

A strand of DNA contains genes (areas that code for some aspect of the

organism.)

DNA can be thought of as an instruction manual with 23 paired chapters

called chromosomes.

We receive 23 chromosomes each from our father and mother.

Genes on the chromosomes indicate specific instructions.

DNA is organized as two complementary strands held together by hydrogen

bonds

Proteins

Proteins (also known as polypeptides) are

very important in living systems as control

and structural elements.

Enzymes and hormones are the two most

common type of proteins. Enzymes act as

catalysts, promoting chemical reactions

without themselves being changed in any

way.

Proteins are compounds that contain

nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Some may contain sulfur and phosphorus.

The building blocks of any protein are the

amino acids.

Proteins are long chains of amino acids linked

together.

There are only 20 different amino acids make

up the many possible protein combinations.

The combinations and number of amino acids

is what determines the structures of all the

different proteins in your body.

Proteins

'Protein shakes' often have all

the 20 different amino acids in

their list of ingredients. If one

wanted to be a nerd, one may

argue that there is no protein in

a 'protein shake'. There are

individual amino acids but no

proteins. Our bodies must build

the protein from the amino

acids we consume in the

'amino acid shake'.

Protein Notes

Proteins (also known as polypeptides) are very

important in living systems as control and structural

elements.

Proteins are compounds that contain nitrogen, carbon,

hydrogen and oxygen.

The building blocks of any protein are the amino acids.

Proteins are long chains of amino acids linked together.

There are only 20 different amino acids make up the

many possible protein combinations.

Examples of proteins include hormones and enzymes

Enzymes

Enzymes are necessary for most chemical

reactions that take place in the cell.

Enzymes control reactions in the cell so the

heat produced can be used by the organism

for useful work/energy.

The 'burning' of glucose is controlled by

enzymes.

Enzymes act upon a substrate.

The substrate may be a foreign protein

(antigen) or it may be a nutrient that requires

digestion to be useful in the cell.

On the surface of the enzyme is a region

called the active site where the substrate

fits into the enzyme.

Enzymes are specific to only one type of

substrate.

Enzymes usually end with the suffix “ase”.

Sucrase breaks down sucrose, lipase –

lipids, lactase – lactose, etc.

Enzymes

Enzymes have specific conditions

that allow them to work effectively.

pH (acidity or alkalinity) and

temperature play a huge role in the

effectiveness of enzymes.

If these 2 are not optimal, enzymes

will denature (breakdown) and its

active site will cease to function.

Enzymes Notes

Enzymes are necessary for most chemical reactions that take place in the

cell.

Enzymes control reactions in the cell so the heat produced can be used by

the organism for useful work/energy. E.g. The 'burning' of glucose is

controlled by enzymes.

Enzymes act upon a substrate.

The substrate may be a foreign protein (antigen) or it may be a nutrient

that requires digestion to be useful in the cell.

Enzymes are specific to only one type of substrate.

Enzymes usually end with the suffix “ase”.

E.g. Sucrase breaks down sucrose, lipase – lipids, lactase – lactose,

etc.

Enzymes have specific conditions that allow them to work effectively.

pH (acidity or alkalinity) and temperature play a huge role in the

effectiveness of enzymes.