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Biochemistry
• A living things are composed of compound
which contain these four elements:
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•
•
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Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Carbohydrates
• The carbohydrates in living things are the fuel
for cellular activities.
• Simple carbohydrates are also called
monosaccharides.
• Monosaccharides are joined together by a
process called Dehydration Synthesis
(condensation reaction)
Complex Carbohydrates
• Two monosaccharides joined together are
called a disaccharide.
• Many monosaccharides joined together form
a polysaccharide
• Starch
• Glycogen
• Cellulose
Lipids
• Include fats, oils and waxes
• Used for stored energy and to make
membranes (phospholipids)
• Are non polar so they do not mix with water
• Are made from fatty acids and glycerol
• Can be saturated (all carbon atoms single
bonded) or unsaturated (at least one carbon
to carbon double bond)
Nucleic Acids
• Store and transmit genetic information.
• Come in two forms DNA and RNA
• RNA has ribose sugar, is single stranded and comes in
three forms mRNA, tRNA and rRNA. It is made from the
nucleotides Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine and Uracil
• DNA has deoxyribose sugar and is a double strand
(double helix) It is made from the nucleotides Adenine,
Cytosine, Guanine and Thymine
Proteins
• Are composed of Amino Acids (20)
• They make up the structural parts of cells,
enzymes, antibodies, hormones and
membrane proteins.
• Chemically they consist of an amine group
(NH2) and a carboxyl group (COOH) and an “R”
group.
• There are 20 different R groups
Chemical Reactions
• All chemical reactions in living things are
catalyzed by enzymes.
• Enzymes are special proteins that help lower the
activation energy of a chemical reaction
» Enzymes combine with the substrate at the enzyme’s
active site and help the chemical action proceed.
» Enzymes may bring molecules together or help break
them apart
» Enzymes are very specific
» Enzymes are able to be used over and over again