Polymers Study Guide

Polymers There are 4 classes of organic molecules, carbs, proteins, nucleic acids and lipids. All but lipids are polymers. Structural variation of macromolecules gives diversity of life. Monomers analogous to letters in the alphabet. 40 to 50 monomers. Assembling Polymers: Monomers joined by covalent bonds. Monomers are joined by dehydration. Broken by hydrolysis. In dehydration, H and OH are removed by joining and forming a water molecule and leaving. The other elements @ the end of the chain combine.

Carbs Carbohydrates == Organic molecules made of sugars and their polymers. Fuels and building materials. (Simple sugars = monosaccharides). Classified based on number of simple sugars. Mono, di, tri poly SACCHARIDES. Monosaccharides serve as nutrients for cells. (CH2O) * n. Example: Glucose. Can be produced by photosynthesis. Store energy in chemical bonds. Raw material for other organic molecules. Building blocks for di and poly saccharides. Carbs have an OG group attached to each carbon (except one C with an ose). -OSE = # of carbons. Examples: triose, pentose, and hexose (Glucose = C6) Monosaccharides generally have a ring structure. Di-saccharides are two monosaccharides linked together by glycosidic bonding. The glycosidic linkage is a covalent bond formed by dehydration reaction between two sugar molecules. Maltose (2 Glucose) Drawing Beer. Lactose (Glucose + Galactose) present in milk. Sucrose (Glucose + Fructose) Table sugar and transport in plants Polysaccharides are polymers of 100 to 1000 monosaccharides. Functions: Storage and structure. The storage polysaccharides are starch and glycogen. Both are polymers of glucose.

Starch: polymer of glucose, stored in plant cells, they are amylose. Glycogen: polymer of glucose, in muscle and liver of animals. Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls; Cellulose is un-branched and cannot be digested by most organisms. Lipids Fats are not polymers (do not have monomers assembled in a pattern). Heterogeneous group. 3 Types: Fats, Phospholipids, Steroids. Fats: -Glycerol, a 3 carbon alcohol -3 Fatty acids (carboxyl and hydrocarbon chain) -Dehydration synthesis combines the Glycerol and fatty acids. -Also called a triacyglyceride. -Insoluble in water -Different fatty acids gives different fats. -Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. >>>Saturated has no double bonds. >>>Unsaturated has one or more double bonds = less hydrogen + kink in chain. -Fats store energy (more than that of carbohydrates). -Cushions vital organs. -Fats insulate Phospholipids: -Lipids composed of glycerol with 2 fatty acids and phosphate group -Phosphate group is polar Steroids: -Four fused carbon rings with functional groups attached. -Examples: Cholesterol, in cell membranes, sex hormones.

Proteins Amino acids. 20 different kinds of amino acids. Bonded together by peptide bonds. Functions: Storage, transport, regulatory (hormones), movement. Structural, enzymes. 4 different levels of structure1) Amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds, straight chains and order. 2) 3D folding arrangement into coils and pleats by hydrogen bonds. Alpha helix and beta pleated. 3) Caused by hydro-phobic and phylic reactions. With H Bonds, ionic, and di-sulphide bridges. 4) Composed of two or more subunits (polypeptide chains). Globular in shape. (Example: enzymes).

Nucleic Acids Nucleotide. Nucleic acids are of 2 types. DNA and RNA. Nucleic acids are composed of long strands of nucleotides, linked by dehydration. Nucleotides include: phosphate group, pentose sugar, nitrogenous bases. The nitrogenous bases are, adenine (A), thymine (T), uracil (U), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). T is DNA only and U is RNA only. The base is the connector in DNA.

Protein

C H O N (S)

Amino acid

Carbohydrate

CHO

Monosaccharide

Nucleic Acid Lipid

CHONP C H O N (P)

Nucleotide NOT A MAC MOL

Structural Muscle Carrier Catalytic Neurotransmitters Antibodies Hormones Quick energy Short term energy storage Structural Genetic Info Energy storage Between organs Insulation

Peptide

Glycosidic

Phosphodiester Ester