Amino Acids and Nucleic Acids

Study Notes

20 amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.
Divided into two categories: Essential Amino Acids (gained from diet) and Non-Essential Amino Acids (synthesized from the body).

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is a double-helix molecule composed of deoxyribose, phosphate backbone, and nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine).
DNA contains genetic instructions.
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) is a single-helix molecule composed of ribose sugar, phosphate backbone, and nitrogenous bases (adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine).

Carbohydrates are the major source of energy for humans, used for energy production, energy storage, building macromolecules, sparing proteins, and assisting in lipid metabolism.
Lipids are another source of energy, used as structural components of cells, energy storage, and signaling molecules.
Proteins help build tissues, repair damage, function as hormones and enzymes, provide fluid, and are involved in wound-healing and energy production (ATP).
Nucleic acids are essential for DNA, the blueprint for life, and RNA, necessary for creating proteins.

A chemical equation is a shorthand notation for a chemical reaction, showing reactants, products, and phases.
The equation consists of reactants (left) and products (right).

Monosaccharides are single-unit sugars, such as glucose (dextrose), fructose (fruit sugar), and galactose.
Disaccharides are two-unit sugars, such as sucrose (found in fruits and vegetables), lactose (found in milk), and maltose (used for germinating seeds).
Polysaccharides are many-unit sugars, with examples including starch (primary source of food energy), glycogen (provides quick energy boost), and cellulose (stabilizes cell walls).

Lipids are water-insoluble and composed of CHO, with building blocks of glycerol.
Examples include triglycerides (fats and oils, such as olive oil and butter), phospholipids (similar to triglycerides but with a phosphate group), and cholesterol (containing various hydrocarbon ring structures).

Proteins are polypeptides containing long chains of amino acids connected by a peptide bond.
Consist of three parts: alpha carbon, amino group, carboxyl group, and R-group.
Amino acids are classified based on their polarity and electrical charge.

Made by French physicist Jacques Charles (1746-1823).
States that the volume of a given mass is directly proportional to the temperature of the gas, given constant pressure.
Linking to Kinetic Molecular Theory, an increased energy inhibits rapid moving molecules, explaining heat and requiring gas to expand.
The Kelvin scale is used, with 0K representing complete stoppage of molecules.