This document summarizes the key organic molecules found in living things: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. It describes their main functions and chemical structures. Carbohydrates include sugars that serve as fuels or provide structure. Lipids are hydrophobic and serve roles in energy storage, insulation, and signaling. Proteins are made of amino acids and perform most chemical reactions in cells. Nucleic acids like DNA and RNA store and transmit genetic information through sequences of nucleotides.

1. The Chemistry
of Life

2. Organic Molecules
• Organic Molecules
– Contain carbon and hydrogen
• Four most abundant types
– Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic
acids
• Monomers link together to form polymers
– Link by dehydration synthesis
– Broken apart by hydrolysis

3. Functional Groups of Organic
Molecules
Ester
Hydroxyl
Carboxyl
Amino
SulfhydrylPhosphate

4. Type of Molecule Chemical Structure Functions
Carbohydrates
Simple Sugars Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
quick fuel for metabolism, being used both as
an energy source (glucose being the most
important in nature) and in biosynthesis
Complex Carbohydrates
(starch, cellulose, chitin)
Polysaccharides cellulose and chitin are structural
polysaccharides; others are used for energy
Lipids
Triglycerides (fats, oils) glycerol and three fatty
acids
enable the bidirectional transference of
adipose fat and blood glucose from the liver
Phospholipids glycerol, a diglyceride, a
phosphate group, and a
simple organic molecule
major component of all cell membranes as
they can form lipid bilayers
Sterols fused four-ring core
structure
important component of membrane lipids;
hormones
Waxes long chain fatty acids and
primary alcohols
provide waterproofing (are insoluble in water)
Proteins one or more long chains of
amino acid residues
assist in cell function
Nucleic Acids (DNA,
RNA)
polynucleotides—strands
composed of nucleotides
store and use genetic information
Macromolecules of Life

5. Carbohydrates
• Monosaccharides – simple sugars
– 5, 6 carbon atoms
– Glucose, fructose

6. Carbohydrates
• Disaccharides – 2 monosaccharides
joined by dehydration synthesis
– Lactose, maltose (sugar cane, sugar beets)
Fructose Sucrose

7. Oligosaccharides
• Intermediate length carbohydrates
– 3 – 100 monomers together
– Glycoproteins – used for immunity
• Blood types – protein on the surface of blood cell
for A, B, AB, O

8. Complex Carbohydrates -
Polysaccharides
• Complex carbohydrates
– Polysaharides
– Cellulose, chitin, starch, glycogen

9. Lipids
• Hydrophobic
• Energy-rich
• Used for:
protection,
insulation, energy
store

11. Types of Organic Molecules -
Lipids
• Lipids – DO NOT dissolve in water
• Fatty Acids
– Saturated – all single bonds and hydrogen bonds, hard to
break down
– Unsaturated – has at least 1 double bond, liquid at room
temperature
– used to make or catabolize other lipids
• Triglycerides (Fats) – fatty acids + glycerol
– protection, insulation, energy storage
• Sterols – lipids with carbon rings
– Vitamin D, cortisone, cholesterol, testosterone (hormones)
• Waxes – fatty acids + alcohols or other hydrocarbons

12. Types of Organic Molecules -
Lipids
• Phospholipids – Glycerol + 2 fatty acids +
phosphate
– Amphipathic – have polar and nonpolar ends
• Only polar end can bond to water molecules
• Hydrophobic – Cannot bond with water
• Hydrophilic – Will bond with water
– Build cell membranes
• Eicosanoids – prostaglandins, leukotrienes
• Carotenes – make Vitamin A, antioxidants
• Vitamin E, K – healing, antioxidant, blood clotting
• Lipoproteins – transport other lipids in blood

13. Proteins
• Proteins – Carbohydrates with N atom
– Need them to carry out most chemical reactions
in the body
– Made of amino acids
• C atom + COOH, NH2, R-group (distinguishing
character)
• 20 types
• Combined into proteins by peptide bonds
– Polypeptide = chain of amino acids
– Protein = polypeptide shaped into protein shape
– Denaturation – Modifying the structure of a
protein changing/destroying its function
• pH, heat, salt

14. Proteins

15. Proteins
• Proteins Are Complex and Highly Versatile
– Protein folding
• Primary (1º) structure
• Secondary (2º) structure
• Tertiary (3º) structure
• Quaternary (4º) structure
– Genetic code specifies amino acid sequence

17. Proteins
• Denaturation: loss of function
– Function depends on overall shape
– Vulnerable to conditions that alter shape
• Heat, salt, pH

18. Nucleic Acids
• Nucleic Acids Store and Transmit Genetic
Information
– Nucleic acid (polymer)
• DNA – stores genetic information
• RNA – enables cells to use DNA
– Nucleotide (monomer)
• Nitrogenous base – A, G, T, C, or U

19. Nucleic Acids

20. DNA