biomolecules

• Biomolecules


  A chemical compound found in living organisms
• Biomolecules include chemicals that are composed of mainly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus
• Biomolecules are the building blocks of life and perform important functions in living organisms
• Biological macromolecules


  The large molecules necessary for life that are built from smaller organic molecules
• Monomer


  A single unit forming a long chain of molecules creating a repeated pattern
• Polymer


  A long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks, or a repeated pattern of various building blocks
• Richard Henderson first successfully produced a three-dimensional image of a biological molecule at atomic resolution using cryo-electron microscopy
• Life is often said to be "carbon-based"
• Carbon's bonding properties are responsible for its important role in living things
• Carbon bonding


  Carbon contains four electrons in its outer shell, allowing it to form four covalent bonds with other atoms or molecules
• Molecules found in living organisms

  • Stearic acid
  • Glycine
  • Glucose
• Four major classes of biomolecules

  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Carbohydrates
• Proteins


  One of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems with the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules
• Proteins


  • May be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective; they may serve in transport, storage, or membranes; or they may be toxins or enzymes
• Amino acids


  The elements that make up proteins are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
• Polypeptide


  A long chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
• Enzymes


  Catalysts in biochemical reactions (like digestion) that are usually proteins, each specific for the substrate upon which it acts
• Enzyme example


  • Salivary amylase, which breaks down amylose, a component of starch
• Hormones


  Chemical signaling molecules, usually proteins or steroids, secreted by an endocrine gland or group of endocrine cells that act to control or regulate specific physiological processes
• Hormone example


  • Insulin, a protein hormone that maintains blood glucose levels
• Protein shape


  • Critical to its function, changes in temperature, pH, and exposure to chemicals may lead to permanent changes in shape and denaturation
• Peptide bond


  A covalent bond formed by a dehydration reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of a second amino acid
• Levels of protein structure

  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
  • Quaternary
• Nucleic acids


  Key macromolecules in the continuity of life, carrying the genetic blueprint and instructions for cell functioning
• DNA and RNA


  The two main types of nucleic acids
• Nucleotide


  The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a nitrogen-containing base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group
• Nitrogen-containing bases


  • Adenine (A)
  • Guanine (G)
  • Cytosine (C)
  • Thymine (T)
  • Uracil (U)
• Proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates are the four major classes of biomolecules
• Biomolecules


  A chemical compound found in living organisms
• Biomolecules include chemicals that are composed of mainly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus
• Biomolecules are the building blocks of life and perform important functions in living organisms
• Biological macromolecules


  The large molecules necessary for life that are built from smaller organic molecules
• Monomer


  A single unit forming a long chain of molecules creating a repeated pattern
• Polymer


  A long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks, or a repeated pattern of various building blocks
• Richard Henderson was the first to successfully produce a three-dimensional image of a biological molecule at atomic resolution using a technique known as cryo-electron microscopy
• It is often said that life is "carbon-based"
• Carbon contains four electrons in its outer shell, allowing it to form four covalent bonds with other atoms or molecules
• Molecules found in living organisms

  • Stearic acid
  • Glycine
  • Glucose
• Four major classes of biomolecules

  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Carbohydrates
• Proteins


  One of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules