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Water, pH and Biological Molecules

Whats so special about water?

Its a great solvent.

It holds tons of heat.

It has high surface tension.

Its less dense as a solid than a liquid.


Water as a Solvent

Dissolving table salt (sodium chloride)


Water Is Lighter as Solid than as a Liquid

This means that ice forms


an insulating blanket over
water.
Water Has High Surface Tension

The attraction of one water


molecule for another also accounts
for ability to hold huge amounts of
heat.
pH is a Big Deal

pH is a measure of
proton (hydrogen ion or
H+) concentration .

Low pH = lots of H+s,


high pH = few H+s.

In biology, keeping H+
levels within a narrow
range is critically
important.
Acids and Bases

An acid produces H+ A base absorbs H+


Carbons Cool

Carbon is the central atom of life.

Because carbon contains 4 electrons in its outer shell, it can pair


in many ways with many different atoms in an attempt to fill its
outer shell.
Carbon is the Central Atom of Life.

glucose

amino acids

fat
Some Useful
Nomenclature
In Biology, Shape Matters

Its not just chemical formula, its the shape of the molecule that lets it
do its job.

Never forget the axiom structure dictates function.

Some biological molecules.


Ah, That Smell!

Once again, shape matters. Its the good fit between odorant and
receptor molecule that lets us detect aromas.
Molecules of Life
How do you build a cell?

Start with water, add lots of small carbon-containing molecules and


.

Four Major Classes of Biological Molecules


Rules of the Game

Macromolecules are built by linking a set of building blocks


(monomers) together into long chains (a polymer).

Each hexagon is this figure is a monomeric


building block linked together to form a
polymer.
Macromolecules Are Built By Linking a Set Of Building Blocks
(Monomers) Together Into Long Chains (A Polymer).
Glucose: A Simple Carbohydrate Used For Energy Production and
as a Building Block For Complex Carbohydrates
Linking Simple Sugars the First Step to a Polymer and the Last
Step to Some Familiar Compounds
Some Familiar and Important Complex Carbohydrates

Note the way complex macromolecule are built by linking simple repeating units.
Carbohydrates are Central Players
in Energy Production and Storage
Lipids are Hydrophobic Molecules That Exist In Three Primary Forms

Sterol

Phospholipid
Fat
Fats Are Made By Linking Fatty Acid Chains to
Glycerol, a Three Carbon Molecule

Space-filling model
of a fat

A fatty acid
Fats are Used in Energy Storage and
Production
The Degree
Of
Saturation
In A Fat
Affects Its
Physical
And
Nutritional
Properties

Where are the


double bonds?
The Degree
Of
saturated
Saturation
In A Fat
Affects Its
Physical
And
Nutritional
Properties

monounsaturated

Where are the


double bonds?
polyunsaturated
Sterols Are Part of Cellular Membranes and Act as Hormones

Note the four ring structure


common to all sterols.
Sterols As Hormones

Estrogen, testosterone,
progesterone, and
corticosteriods (cortisol) are
all steroid hormones.
Sterols As Hormones

Designer steroids are major A heavily muscled Linford


sporting news where they have been Christie who was disqualified
used illegally in track and field, from international
baseball, football and countless competition after testing
other sports. positive for a banned steroid.
Phospholipids are Building Blocks of Cellular Membranes

The hydrophilic head group and hydrophobic tails are the keys to phospholipid
function.
Hydrophilic Head Group And Hydrophobic Tails Are The Keys To
Phospholipid Function

Phospholipids have a Jekyll and Hyde personality.


Phospholipids Form Biological Membranes
Protein

Proteins are THE key elements of life.


Forget DNA, proteins rule.

Remember the principle - structure determines function.

Since proteins are the key players of the cell, it follows that
protein structure determines cell function.
Some of the Diverse Functions of Proteins
Strands of the Protein Keratin Create Hair
Proteins are Linear Chains of Linked Amino Acids
A Common
Thread and a
Unique
Identity
Amino Acids, Peptide Bonds, Polypeptides, Protein

Proteins are linear chains of 20 different building blocks called amino


acids.

Peptide bonds

Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds a form of


covalent bond.
Proteins are Folded Structures
Whose Shape (and therefore
function) Depends on Amino
Acid Sequence
Nucleic Acids

There are two kinds of nucleic acids,


DNA and RNA. Both are involved in
the storage and flow of information
from gene to gene product.

DNA
Nucleotides are
DNA and RNA
Building Blocks
Nucleotides are Important in Their Own Right

Nucleotides fuel the


cell and coordinate its
metabolism.

ATP, the cells


primary energy
currency.

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