The document provides an overview of biomolecules, summarizing their classifications, structures, and functions. It categorizes biomolecules into carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, detailing their properties and roles in living organisms. Key elements like functional groups and biochemical processes such as protein synthesis and energy transfer are also discussed.

1. Biophysics
Jessalyn C. Verzosa

2. BIOMOLECULE
S

3. Biomolecules
- Compounds of carbon with a variety of functional groups.
- Organic molecules.

5. Biomolecules
CHNOPS – elements most commonly found in living cells.
Biopolymers – are natural polymers produced by the cells of living organisms
(heteropolymer)
Hydrocarbon and Hydrocarbon Chains
• Hydrocarbon is a molecule made of only hydrogen and carbon.
• Hydrocarbon chain is a hydrocarbon in which the carbon atoms are covalently
connected to one another in a line
Carbon Covalent Bonds
• Nature of chemical bonding with carbon atoms (single bond, double bond, triple bond)

6. Functional Groups
- A specific group of atoms within a molecule that confers
certain characteristics to that molecule.
• Hydroxyl group
• Carbonyl group
• Carboxyl group
• Amine group
• Phosphate group
• Acids, Bases, and PH

7. 1. Hydroxyl Group
- Is an oxygen atom with one hydrogen atom covalently
attached.
2. Carbonyl Group
- Is a carbon atom with a double covalent bond to an oxygen atom.
a. Ketone
b. Aldehyde
c. Carboxyl

8. 3. Carboxyl Group
- The carbon atom has a double covalent bond to an oxygen
atom and a single covalent bond to a hydroxyl group.
- Molecules that contain a carboxyl group are called carboxylic
acids.
4. Amine Group
- Is a nitrogen atom bonded in such a way as to have a pair of
non-bonded valence electrons.
- Nitrogen atom that has three single covalent bonds to three
other atoms.

9. 5. Phosphate Group
- Is a phosphorous atom with four oxygen atoms attached.
6. Acids, Bases, and pH
• Acids – are molecules or functional groups that increase the
concentration of protons in solution.
• Bases – are molecules or functional groups that decrease the
concentration of protons.
• pH – concentration of protons in units of pH.

10. Class of Biomolecules
1. Carbohydrates
- Are molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
- Most abundant biomolecules on Earth.
- Are used for energy storage (food).
- Serve as structural material (cellulose).
- Components of nucleic acids and of some coenzymes.

11. Types of Carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides, the simplest carbohydrates.
- Disaccharides, which consist of two monosaccharides.
- Oligosaccharides, contains between 2 and 20 monosaccharides.
- Polysaccharides (Starches), which contain many monosaccharides.

12. Derivatives of Carbohydrates
• Deoxycarbohydrate – a carbohydrate molecule that has one
less oxygen atom than normally found in carbohydrates.
 Deoxyribose – a major component of the residues making up
DNA
• Sugar alcohols – used as low-calorie sweeteners
• Sugar acids – produced by oxidation of glucose

13. Class of Biomolecules
2. Lipids
- Are biomolecules that do not dissolve in water,
but they do dissolved in nonpolar solvents.
- Hydrophobic or amphipathic
- Serve as the main structure of cell membranes
- Energy storage
- Provide a layer of thermal insulation and
protection for many organisms

14. Types of Lipids
a. Fatty Acids – are long chain hydrocarbons with carboxyl group at
one end.
 Saturated fatty acids – have no double bonds
 Unsaturated fatty acids – contain double bonds
 Polyunsaturated fatty acids – contains more than one double
bond in the carbon chain

15. Types of Lipids
b. Glycerides – are formed by combining one, two or more three fatty acids
with glycerol molecule
 Glycerol (glycerin or glycerine) – is a small, three-carbon carbohydrate
- Serves as the foundation for glycerides
 Triglycerides – play an important role in energy storage in may
organisms

16. Types of Lipids
c. Phospholipid – consists of phosphate group attached to a diglyceride
- Major component of cell membranes
d. Non-polymeric lipids (nonsaponifiable lipids)– lipids that are not polymers
or do not contain polymers as a major portion of their structure.
- Include one or more ring structures

17. Class of Biomolecules
3. Proteins
- A polymer of amino acids
- Defined as compounds of high molar mass consisting largely or entirely of
chains of amino acids
 Amino acid – a molecule that has a carbon atom with an amine group on
one side and a carboxyl group on the other
- Building blocks of proteins
• Peptides – two or more amino acids join together into chains
• Peptide bond – an amide bond joining two amino acids

19. Protein Structure and Function
- Once a polypeptide is formed, the primary structure or sequence of
amino acids in the polymer bends, twists, and folds until the protein
takes on a particular shape.

20. Class of Biomolecules
4. Nucleic Acid
- Are biomolecules named for being an acidic substance originally
discovered in the nucleus of cells.
- Storage and expression of genetic information, transport of amino acids
during protein synthesis and acting as catalysts.
- Are polymers of nucleotides – are molecules that contain nitrogenous
base, sugar, and phosphate group.

24. Nucleic Acid Structure
a. Primary Structure
• Nucleotides are joined by phosphodiester bonds.
• Nucleotide sequence

25. Nucleic Acid Structure
a. Secondary Structure
• Nucleic acids tend toward a helical shape, due to aromatic stacking
interactions among nitrogenous bases.
• Base pairing – refers to the stacking interactions of nitrogenous bases
in nucleic acid.
• Double helix – consists of two strands of nucleotides that form a
double helix structure like a spiral stair case.
• DNA contains complementary base pairs.

27. Nucleic Acid Structure

28. Nucleic Acid Function
DNA
- Storage of genetic information
- Expression of genetic information
- Replication of genetic information

29. Nucleic Acid Function
DNA
- Storage of genetic information
 Genetic Code – sequence of nucleotides in DNA, specifying the content
and sequence of amino acids in each protein.
 Gene – section of DNA that specifies the amino acids for a given protein

30. Nucleic Acid Function
DNA
- Expression of genetic information
 Reading the instructions stored in DNA’s nucleotide sequence and starting the
process of building a protein.
 RNA - Transmits information from DNA to make proteins.
 Messenger RNA (mRNA) carries genetic information from DNA to the
ribosomes.
 Transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome to make the
protein.
 Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) makes up 2/3 of ribosomes where protein synthesis
takes place.

31. • Transcription - mRNA is formed from a gene on a DNA strand.
• Translation - tRNA molecules bring amino acids to mRNA to build a
protein.
• Gene Regulation – regulates or stops building the protein.

33. Nucleic Acid Function
DNA
- Replication of genetic information

34. Nucleotides as Energy
Currency
Energy currency for the cell
- Covalent bonds between adjacent phosphate groups contain relatively
large amount of energy.
- The energy of the pyrophosphate bond is used to drive biophysical
processes.
- Nucleotide is acting as energy currency, to provide energy where it is
needed.