Reading: Chemistry of Life

Chemistry of Life

Why Chemistry?

All of life – cell functions, growing, reproducing is all dependent on the chemistry and chemical reactions that go on in the cell and between cells

This will be a basic introduction into the main biologic macromolecules that make up life which will help your understanding of terms and ideas as we go forward

Four macromolecules

Types of Organic Compounds

Types of Compounds	Examples	Functions
carbohydrates	sugars, starches	provides energy to cells, stores energy, forms body structures
lipids	fats, oils	stores energy, forms cell membranes, carries messages
proteins	enzymes, antibodies	helps cells keep their shape, makes up muscles, speeds up chemical reactions, carries messages and materials
nucleic acids	DNA, RNA	contains instructions for proteins, passes instructions from parents to offspring, helps make proteins

Carbohydrates

-The most common type of organic (meaning making up living things) compound
-Examples: sugars and starches
-Made of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
-Functions: provides energy to cells, stores energy, and forms body structures

Lipids

-Examples: Fats and oils
-Made of: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
-Functions: stores energy, forms cell membranes, and carries messages

Proteins

-Examples: Enzymes, antibodies
-Made of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur
-Amino acids are joined together to make proteins
-Function: maintains cell shape, makes muscle tissue, speeds chemical reactions (enzymes), carries cellular messages
-The shape of a protein matches its function
-There are 4 levels of organization/shapes of a protein:
   Primary Protein Structure is sequence of a chain of amino acids.
   Secondary Protein Structure occurs when the sequences of amino acids are linked by hydrogen
      bonds.
   Tertiary Protein Structure occurs when certain attractions are present between alpha helices and
      pleated sheets.
   Quaternary Protein Structure is protein consisting of more than one amino acid chain.

Nucleic Acids

-Example: DNA (double-stranded), RNA (single-stranded)
-Made of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus
   Nucleotides are the basic building blocks of nucleic acids
-Function: stores genetic information and helps make proteins