ORGANIC CHEMISTRY

The Study of Carbon Compounds

Carbon!• Most chemicals that make up living things

are Carbon-based.– Why?

• Easily forms molecules that are large, complex, and diverse.

• Up to 30% of a cell is made up of Carbon-based compounds.

Functional Groups

• Carbon-based chemical groups most important in life processes

• Each group plays a vital role in a chemical reaction– Ex. Sex hormone

differences

Estrogen

Testosterone

Macromolecules

The Molecules of Life!

Macromolecules are…

• Large polymers• Built by

monomers

• 4 main classes – Carbohydrates– Proteins– Lipids– Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

Fuel and Building Material for Life!

Carbohydrates are…

• Most abundant carbon compounds found in living things

• Sugars• Monosaccharides- simple sugars

» Glucose

• Disaccharides- sugars built of 2 monosaccharides

» Sucrose+Fructose

Carbos cont…

• Starch=Polysaccharides: act as nutrient storage-and form structural components of living things• Glycogen- stores glucose in muscle

tissue for quick energy

• Cellulose- provides rigid structure

»Cell wall of plant cells

CELL WALL

LIPIDS

• Fats– Saturated

• Solidifies- bad• Ex: animal fat and butter

– Unsaturated• No solidification- good• Ex: vegetable oils

– Fats are used for energy storage• Long-term food reserves stored in adipose (fat)cells

Lipids cont…

• Lipids do not have monomers

• Fat (adipose) provides insulation for warmth

– Whales, seals

• Fat provides cushion for organs

I’m Fat!

Fat Cells (adipose)

Lipids cont…

• Phospholipids– Make up cell membranes

• Hydrophobic tails– Opposed to water

• Hydrophilic heads– Affinity for water

This opposite relation to water forms a bilayer.

The bilayer forms a boundary between the cell and the external environment.

Phospholipid BilayerPhospholipid Bilayer

Proteins

The Ultimate Polymer!

Proteins…• Monomer or building blocks of

proteins: – Amino acids

Amino Acid Codon Chart

Protein Structure

• 2 or more amino acids joined by peptide bond–Hence the other name for a

protein: polypeptide chain

Structure=Function

• Protein’s specific structure determines it’s duties– All functions depend on ability to

recognize and bond to specific molecules• Form=Function

– Very specific fit• Lock and key

INDUCED FIT

Above, both enzymes and substrates are proteins designed to fit together like a lock and key

4 Levels of Protein Structure

• Primary– Unique sequence of AA

• Chain

• Secondary– Repeating coils and folds

• Helix or pleated sheet

• Tertiary– Folds formed by side-chain bonding

Protein structure cont…

• Quaternary– 2 or more polypeptide chains aggregated

• Clumping• Tightly held together

Types of Proteins

• Structural Defensive– Support -Antibodies

Storage Enzymes– Embryo food -catalysts

• Transport Hormones– Oxygen -regulation

• Receptors Contractile– Drugs -muscles

Nucleic Acids

Informational Polymers

Nucleic Acids

• 2 types– DNA-double-stranded

• Genetic material– Inherited from parents

– RNA-single-stranded• Controls protein synthesis

• Nucleotides are monomers of both DNA/RNA

• Nucleic acids work together – Build proteins

The Central Dogma