Download Macromolecules

Class Notes
Topic:
Carbon Compounds
Name: _______________________________________
Period:_______________________________________
Date: _______________________________________
Questions/Main Idea:
What is an organic
compound?
Why is carbon ideal for
making different
compounds?
What are
macromolecules?
What is polymerization?
What are the organic
compounds needed by all
living things?
What are carbohydrates?
How is extra sugar
stored?
What are the uses of
polysaccharides?
What are lipids?
(fats, oils, & waxes)
How are lipids formed?
Notes:
 In Biology, the word organic means “relating to organisms” NOT food
grown without the use of pesticides, antibiotics, or other industrial
chemicals.
 All organic compounds contain covalently bound carbon.
 Organic compounds can also be synthesized in the lab.
 Carbon atoms have four valence (outer shell) electrons, allowing carbon
to form covalent bonds with many elements including hydrogen,
oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur and nitrogen.
 Carbon can also bond to other carbon atoms, which gives carbon the
ability to form chains that are almost unlimited in length.
 These carbon-carbon bonds can be single, double, or triple.
 The chains are straight, branched, or even ring-shaped.
 Therefore, carbon is unique in that it can form millions of different large
and complex structures.
They are giant molecules which are made from many smaller molecules.
It is the process in which smaller units (monomers) join together to form
larger compounds (polymers).
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Nucleic Acids
 Proteins
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main source of energy for organisms
can also be used for structural purposes
made of C, H, and O; usually in a 1:2:1 ratio
The monomers of carbohydrates are called monosaccharides, like
glucose, fructose (in fruits) and galactose (in milk).
The breakdown of monosaccharides supplies immediate energy.
Usually end in –ose.
Extra sugar is stored as macromolecules called polysaccharides.
Polysaccharides are made from monosaccharides.
Many animals store extra sugar as glycogen. Glycogen stored in your
muscle supplies energy for contractions. Glycogen stored in your liver
is released when glucose in your blood runs low.
Plants store excess sugar as starch.
Plants also make cellulose, a strong, rigid fiber used for support.
uses: long-term energy storage, insulation, waterproof covering, part
of biological membranes, chemical messengers (steroids)
contain mostly carbon and hydrogen
generally not soluble in water
Many lipids are formed when a glycerol molecule combines with fatty
acids.
If all carbon atoms have only single bonds, the lipid is saturated. It
holds as many hydrogen atoms as possible.
What are unsaturated
lipids?
What are nucleic acids?
What are proteins made
up of?
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What are the functions of
proteins?
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What is a polypeptide?
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How are proteins
organized?
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What are enzymes?
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Summary:
If there is at least one double bond between carbon atoms, the lipid is
unsaturated.
Unsaturated lipids like cooking oils tend to be liquid at room temp.
store and transmit hereditary, or genetic, information
contain hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus
The monomers of nucleic acids are nucleotides, which contain three
parts: a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogen base.
examples: DNA and RNA
contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (most also have
sulfur)
The monomers of proteins are amino acids.
Amino acids contain an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable
R-group.
They can provide structural support in bones and muscles
form parts of cell membranes,
function as hormones to regulate the body
form antibodies to protect against infection
Increase the rate of chemical reactions to name a few.
When the amino acids join, they form a polymer called a polypeptide.
The monomers are held together by peptide bonds.
More than 20 different amino acids are found in nature.
Since the R-group varies, it allows for much variety. That is why
proteins have so many functions.
Primary: chain of amino acids
Secondary: when sequence of amino acids are linked by hydrogen
bonds
Tertiary: occurs when attractions are present between alpha helices &
pleated sheets
Quaternary: consisting of more than one amino acid chain.
• This allows for the unique shape of proteins.
• Shape is very important; if a protein is not the right shape, it
will not work.
Enzymes are biological catalysts, which work to speed up a chemical
reaction.
Without enzymes, several reactions in cells would never occur or
happen to slowly to be useful.