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Dr. B. Kendall
Biochemistry
 Are considered to be organic.
 All contain carbon.
 All contain covalent bonds.
 Can be very large molecules.

Carbohydrates (Sugars)
 All contain C, H, O
 Are H2O soluble (Hydrophilic).
 Many classifications!

Types:
1) Monosaccharides (simple sugars):
5 carbons: Pentose (Ribose)
6 carbons: Hexose (C6H12O6)
Ex. Glucose: Blood Sugar, Main source of energy.
Fructose: Fruit Sugar.
Galactose: Component of milk sugar.

2. Disaccharides: Made up of two “mono’s”. Formed by a dehydration reaction

(synthesis) = H2O is removed!
The bond is broken by hydrolysis (Breaking apart with H2O).

Ex. Sucrose (Table Sugar): Glucose & Fructose.

Lactose (Milk Sugar): Glucose & Galactose.
Maltose (Malt): 2 Glucoses.

3. Polysaccharides: Many “mono’s”.

Ex. Starch: Glucose storage in plants.
Glycogen: Glucose storage in animals.
Cellulose (fiber!): Forms plant structure. Cannot be digested by humans!

Lipids (Fats)
 Insoluble in H2O (Hydrophobic).
 Made up of long chains of C’s.
Types:
1) Triglycerides (Tri-Gly’s)
 Main lipid in the diet.
 Found in plants & animals.
 Made up of glycerol & 3 fatty acids.
Animal Tri-Gly’s: Saturated (Single CB): Solids.
Plant Tri-Gly’s: Unsaturated (Double CB): Liquids (Oils).
Can be used for energy! Can be stored!
2) Phospholipids: Similar to Tri-Gly’s; Are used for structure. Not energy!
Ex. Lecithin
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3) Steroids: Unrelated to Tri-Gly’s

Ex. Cholesterol, Sex Hormones, Cortisol, Vit. D.
4) Prostaglandins: Variety of effects.

Proteins
 Very large structures!
 Made up of amino acids.
 Held together by peptide bonds!
 Can form fibrous or globular shapes (3-D)!
 Examples of amino acids are: Serine, Glycine, Cysteine & Alanine.
They have the most functions!

Functions:
 Structural: Cell Membrane
 Transport: Hemoglobin carries O2.
 Regulatory: Hormones (Insulin)
 Immunity: Antibodies
 Contractile: Actin & Myosin
 Catalyst: Enzymes
No significant storage or use for energy!

Enzymes:
 Catalysts: Speed up a reaction.
 They are not “used up”.
 Some need a cofactor (a metal ion) to be active.
 Some need a coenzyme (a vitamin) to be active.
 Substrate: what an enzyme acts upon.
 Enzymes are specific for their substrate.
 Substrates fit into the enzyme’s active site.
 Many enzymes are named after their substrate and end in -ase.
 Many enzymes have an optimum pH and temp.

Nucleic Acids
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
RNA: Ribonucleic Acid
Their principle repeating unit is called a nucleotide.
A nucleotide has 3 components:

1. A Nitrogen Base:
Adenine (A)
Thymine (T)
Cytosine (C)
Guanine (G)
2. A Pentose Sugar  RNA: Ribose & DNA: Deoxy-ribose
3. A Phosphate Group
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DNA has 2 strands of nucleotides.

Complementary bases (face each other!): A  T
GC
DNA is shaped like a twisted ladder (Helix)!
RNA is a single strand of nucleotides and the base Uracil (U) replaces Thymine.
There are 3 types of RNA:
Messenger RNA: m-RNA
Ribosomal RNA: r-RNA
Transfer RNA: t-RNA
Nucleic Acids are involved in Protein Synthesis!