macromolecules

monomer: amino acids

20 different amino acids

amino acid chains

proteins

amino acids chained into a polymer

amino acids are linked by peptide bonds

each amino acid is the same except for the variable (functio) group

the variable group changes the property of the amino acid

some are electrically charged, some are not

some are polar, some are non polar

composed of C, H, O, and N

N = nitrogen

hormones, movement, immune system, enzymes

examples

skin

muscle

ligaments

bone

fingernails, claws

hair

enzymes

example: pepsin

hormones

example: insulin

provocative proteins

fireflys

luciferase

jellyfish gene

pufferfish, scorpions, cobras

nerve toxins

spider webs

fibroin

porcupines quills, rhinocerous's horn

structural keratin

functions

hormones

insulin

movement

muscle

immune system

protect agains germs

enzymes

help chemical reactions

structure

proteins fold and twist into a 3D shape

primary structure: sequence of amino acids

like letters in a word, change them aound and you change the word

example: letters or settler

secondary structure: chains coil or fold

like grouping words into a sentence

two types

alpha helix

pleated sheet

hydrogen bonding

example: silk

tertiary structure: attraction between the alpha helixes and beta sheets

like weaving sentences together into a short story

quaternary structure: one or more chains bonded together

like short stories put together into a book

examples: collagen and hemoglobin

proteins do their job because of their shape

unfolding a protein destroys it's shape

wrong shape = can't do it's job

unfolding proteins = denature

temperature

pH (acidity)

monomer: monosaccharides

sugars

classified by number of carbons

names for sugars usually end in "ose"

examples: fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose

simple and complex sugars

monosaccharides: simple 1 monomer sugars, glucose

disaccharides: 2 monomers, sucrose

polysaccharides: large polymers, starch

composed of C, H, and O

carbo-hydr-ate

always in a 1:2:1 ration

C>6 H>12 O>6

function: quick energy, energy storage, structure

examples: sugars, starches, celluslose (cell wall), glycogen

building carbohydrates

dehydration synthesis

2 sugars: disaccharide

building BIG carbohydrates

glucose + glucose + glucose = polysaccharide

starch: energy storage in plants

example: potatoes

glycogen: energy storage in animals

example: in liver and muscles

cellulose: structure in plants

example: cell walls

cell walls in plants

herbivores can igest cellulose

most carnivores cannot digest cellulose

that's why they eat meat to get their energy and nutrients

cellulose = fiber

chitin: structure in anthropods and fungi

example: exoskeleton

starch = plant

glycogen = animal

monomers: triglycerides

structure

fatty acid

long HC "tail" with COOH group at "head"

glycerol

glycerol + fatty acid = dehydration synthesis

building lipids

triacylglycerol

3 fatty acids linked to glycerol

composed of C, H, and O

long hydrocarbon chain

properties and functions

properties

non-polar

hydrophobic (doesn't like water)

functions

energy storage

very rich

2x carbohydrates

cushion organs

insulates body

like whale blubber

lipids are a diverse group: fats, oils, phospholipids, steroids, waxes

saturated fats

all C's bonded to H's

no C=C double bonds

long, straight, fatty acid chains

solid at room temperature

stacks well

contributes to cardiovascular disease

examples

trans fats

unsaturated fat that has been partially hydrogenated

hydrogented: adding hydrogen to make unsaturated fats more saturated

why?

higher melting point, which is better or baking

increases shelf life

coconut oil

steric acid (animal fat)

unsaturated fats

C=C double bonds in the fatty acid chains

plant and fish fats

vegetable oils

liquid at room temperature

the kinks made by double bonded C prevent the molecules from packing tightly together

phospholipids

structure

glycerol + 2 fatty acid tails

compromise most of a cells membrane

like a penguin: a head at one ennd, tail at the other

monomer: nucleotide

3 parts

a base

a pentose sugar (5 carbon)

ribose in RNA

deoxyribose in DNA

a phosphate group

composed of C, H, O, and N

function

store and transmit hereditary information

series of bases encode information

like the letters of a book

stored information is passes from parent to offspring

need to copy accurately

stored information = genes

genes: genetic information

examples

RNA

single nucleotide chain

DNA

double nucleotide chain

spiraled in a double helix

grapes, cucumbers, peanuts