Biological Macromolecules: Hydrolysis & Dehydration Synthesis

Study Notes

Biological Macromolecules

Hydrolysis: breaks bonds in a polymer by adding water
Dehydration Synthesis: bond forms between 2 monomers, and a water molecule is lost, facilitated by enzymes
Dehydration Synthesis: "to put together while losing water", includes cholesterol, female and male sex hormones

Lipids

Glycerol backbone with 3 fatty acid tails
Dehydration Synthesis of Fats: 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids attached by dehydration synthesis, forming triglycerides
3 water molecules are formed during dehydration synthesis
Saturated Fats: contain no double bonds between carbons, solid at room temperature (e.g. butter, lard, shortening, bacon)
Unsaturated Fats: have double bonds between carbons, liquid at room temperature (e.g. oils)

Proteins

Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur
Composed of amino acids
Functions: building blocks of living materials, compose structural parts, and enzymes
Found in: meat, eggs, and cheese
Structure: much larger and more complex than carbohydrates and lipids, containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

Carbon Compounds

95% of all carbon compounds are organic
Carbon atoms can form chemical bonds with other carbon atoms in long chains or rings
Carbon compounds in living things: carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins (macromolecules)

Polymers and Monomers

Polymers: many individual small molecules (monomers) combining to form a larger molecule
Monomers: individual small molecules that combine to form a polymer
Examples:
- Carbohydrates: polysaccharides, monosaccharides (simple sugars)
- Lipids: fats, glycerol and fatty acids
- Proteins: amino acids
- Nucleic Acids: nucleotides

Dehydration Synthesis and Hydrolysis

Dehydration Synthesis: process of joining monomers to form polymers, releasing water molecules
Hydrolysis: chemical breakdown of polymers into monomers through the addition of water, opposite of dehydration synthesis

Carbohydrates

Energy-rich compounds made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Cells use carbohydrates to get and store energy
Also called sugars or starches
Plant cells store energy as starch

Proteins and Amino Acids

Amino acids: building blocks of proteins, joined by peptide bonds (dehydration synthesis)
20 different amino acids, each with a unique R group
Peptide bonds hold amino acids together, forming dipeptides, tripeptides, and polypeptides
Denaturation: proteins lose their shape and function when exposed to extreme changes in pH, temperature, etc.

Nucleic Acids

Compounds made of long, repeating chains called nucleotides
DNA: a nucleic acid that contains the information cells need to make all of their proteins
Function: important for growth and reproduction of cells, contains the genetic code
Structure: sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), phosphate, nitrogen bases
Building blocks: nucleotides

Description

Learn about the processes of hydrolysis, which breaks bonds in polymers by adding water, and dehydration synthesis, which forms bonds between monomers while losing water. Explore how enzymes facilitate these reactions in biological macromolecules.