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The Biochemistry Crash Course

This document provides an overview of biochemistry by summarizing the four main types of biologically useful organic compounds: nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. It explains that nucleic acids like DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information. Proteins are polymers of amino acids and are responsible for most chemical functions in the body. Lipids include fats and are used for energy storage and building cell membranes. Carbohydrates include sugars and starches and are also used for energy storage.

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Jassel Durden
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views

The Biochemistry Crash Course

This document provides an overview of biochemistry by summarizing the four main types of biologically useful organic compounds: nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. It explains that nucleic acids like DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information. Proteins are polymers of amino acids and are responsible for most chemical functions in the body. Lipids include fats and are used for energy storage and building cell membranes. Carbohydrates include sugars and starches and are also used for energy storage.

Uploaded by

Jassel Durden
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The

Biochemistry
Crash Course
Basically, almost all living things are made
up of these 4 Elements:
- Carbon (C)
- Nitrogen (N)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Oxygen (O)
This exercise is designed to familiarize you with
the biologically useful substances that these
elements can form

1. INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
This group of compounds do not contain
Carbon (with the exception of Carbon Dioxide
CO2)
These are substances are abundant in the
natural world
Water (H2O) is the most essential Inorganic
Compound that our bodies require (our bodies
are 70% water)
Our Bodies also require inorganic compounds
(minerals) formed from Na, Mg, Zn, P, Cl, F, Fe,
K

2. ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
These compounds are Carbon-Containing
compounds
Carbon is a special element because it has the
ability to bond covalently with a large number of
elements in a large number of stable
configurations (arrangements)
Carbon also has the ability to form long stable
chains and rings of atoms
Organic Compounds are formed by
Polymerization
Smaller compounds called Monomers (single units)
bond together to form Polymers
Polymers are often referred to as Macromolecules
because of their size

(a) Nucleic Acids

Composed of C, H, O, N and P atoms


Polymers of individual Monomers called
Nucleotides
Nucleic Acids are responsible for storing and
transmitting genetic information
There are 2 types of Nucleic Acids
1. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
2. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

Note: Nucleic acids are NOT strong acids

(a) Nucleic Acids

Nitrogenous
Base

Phosphate
Group
5 Carbon Sugar

Each Nucleotide is
composed of:
1. A 5-Carbon Sugar
2. A Nitrogenous Base
3. A Phosphate Group

(a) Nucleic Acids

(b) Proteins
These organic compounds contain N, C, H and
O
Proteins are responsible for most chemical
functions that take place in the cells of our
bodies
A Protein is a Polymer of Amino Acids
An Amino Acid is an acid with an Amino Group at one
end (-NH2) and a Carboxyl Group at the other end (COOH)
These groups can bond to each other creating long
chains

(b) Proteins
Amino acids form
covalent bonds with
each other called
Peptide Bonds
This process is called
a Dehydration
Synthesis as a
molecule of Water is
released

(b) Proteins
A Dipeptide is a
peptide made up of 2
amino acids
A Tripeptide is made
up of 3 amino acids
A complete Protein
contains one or more
polypeptide chains

(c) Lipids
These waxy, oily organic molecules are
basic components of fats
They are important for energy storage
They are used to build cell membranes
They are used as chemical messangers

(c) Lipids

The basic subunit of a Lipid (Fat) is


called a Monoglyceride

Fatty Acid

Monoglycerides are composed of a


glycerol molecule and 2 or 3 Fatty
Acid Molecules

A Monoglyceride is formed by a
Dehydration Synthesis in which
the carboxyl group
(-COOH) on the fatty acid bonds
with the Hydroxyl Groups (-OH) on
Glycerol releasing Water Molecules

Glycerol

Lipid (Fat) molecules are created


from chains of monoglycerides
called polyglycerides in which the
end of one glycerol molecule binds
to the end of a glycerol molecule in
a neighbouring monoglyceride

(c) Lipids
A Fatty acid in which every Carbon atom is
joined by a single bond is called a Saturated
Fatty Acid
A Lipid made from saturated fatty acids is called
a Saturated Fat
A fatty acid that contains a double bond is called
an Unsaturated Fatty Acid
A Lipid made from unsaturated fatty acids is
called an Unsaturated Fat
A Lipid made from an unsaturated fatty acid with
more than one double bond is called a
Polyunsaturated Fat

(c) Lipids

Saturated
Fat

Unsaturated
Fat

(d) Carbohydrates
These organic molecules are commonly
called Sugars
Although they do not hold as much energy
as Lipid Molecules, they are used to store
energy
Carbohydrates are made up of Carbon,
Hydrogen and Oxygen
There are 2 H atoms for every 1 O atom

(d) Carbohydrates
The simplest Carbohydrates are called
Monosaccharides
(ex) Glucose, Fructose, Galactose

Through Dehydration Synthesis, 2


Monosaccharides can bond to each other and
form a Disaccharide
(ex) Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose (table sugar)

Polysaccharides are Macromolecules formed


from many Monosaccharides
(ex) Starch, Cellulose, Glycogen

(d) Carbohydrates
Monsaccharides (single sugars)

glucose

fructose

galactose

(d) Carbohydrates

Disaccharides (double sugars)


Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose
(table sugar)
Glucose + Glucose = Maltose
Fructose + Galactose = Lactose

(d) Carbohydrates
Polysaccharides:

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