Biochemistry Notes

Overview of Macromolecules

  • Essential organic molecules: Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
  • Function: Run body, contain information, and provide energy.
  • Macromolecules are polymers made from monomers.

Organic Compounds

  • Shape Types:
    • Straight Chain
    • Branched Chain
    • Ring

Carbon

  • 4 valence electrons leading to varied structure.
  • Can form 4 covalent bonds.

Monomers and Polymers

  • Monomers: Small units (e.g., bricks).
  • Polymers: Larger units (e.g., brick walls).

Metabolic Reactions

  • Catabolic: Breakdown molecules (e.g., AB → A + B) releasing energy.
  • Anabolic: Build larger molecules (e.g., A + B → AB) using energy.

Polymerization

  • Dehydration Synthesis: Links monomers by removing water.
  • Hydrolysis: Breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

Carbohydrates

  • Main function: Short-term energy storage.
  • Types:
    • Monosaccharides: Single sugars (e.g., glucose).
    • Disaccharides: Two sugars (e.g., sucrose).
    • Polysaccharides: Complex carbohydrates (e.g., glycogen, starch, cellulose).

Lipids

  • Function: Long-term energy storage, insulation, and cellular structure.
  • Component: Fatty acids and glycerol.
  • Types: Saturated (solid) and unsaturated (liquid) fatty acids.

Proteins

  • Composed of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
  • Functions include enzyme activity, structure, transport, signaling, and defense.
  • Energy storage: 4 calories/gram.

Nucleic Acids

  • Monomers are nucleotides.
  • Functions: Store and transmit genetic information.
  • Types: DNA (A-T, C-G pairing) and RNA (A-U, C-G pairing).