Biology: Biomolecules

Biomolecules

Carbohydrates

• Provide energy for the cell
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
• Examples: glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, cellulose
• Classified into:
  • Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
  • Disaccharides (double sugars)
  • Polysaccharides (complex sugars)

Proteins

• Perform various functions in the cell:
  • Structural
  • Enzymatic
  • Transport
  • Defense
• Composed of amino acid chains
• 20 different amino acids are used to build proteins
• Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures

Nucleic Acids

• Contain genetic information:
  • DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
  • RNA (ribonucleic acid)
• Composed of nucleotides:
  • Sugar molecule
  • Phosphate group
  • Nitrogenous base (A, C, G, T, or U)

Lipids

• Provide energy storage
• Composed of fatty acids and glycerol
• Examples: triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids
• Functions:
  • Energy storage
  • Cell membrane structure
  • Hormone regulation

Cellular Energy

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

• Energy currency of the cell
• Composed of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups
• ATP hydrolysis releases energy for cellular processes

Water and Its Properties

• Makes up 70-90% of cell composition
• Solvent properties:
  • High surface tension
  • High heat capacity
  • Cohesion and adhesion
• Importance in cellular processes:
  • Temperature regulation
  • Chemical reactions
  • Cell turgor pressure

Chemical Reactions Inside the Cell

• Metabolic pathways:
  • Catabolism (breakdown)
  • Anabolism (synthesis)
• Types of reactions:
  • Oxidation and reduction
  • Hydrolysis and condensation
  • Acid-base reactions

Enzymes

• Biological catalysts
• Increase reaction rates without being consumed
• Specificity:
  • Substrate binding
  • Active site
• Factors affecting enzyme activity:
  • Temperature
  • pH
  • Concentration
  • Inhibitors and activators

Biomolecules

Carbohydrates

• Provide energy for the cell, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
• Examples: glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, cellulose
• Classified into: monosaccharides (simple sugars), disaccharides (double sugars), polysaccharides (complex sugars)

Proteins

• Perform various functions: structural, enzymatic, transport, defense
• Composed of amino acid chains, 20 different amino acids used to build proteins
• Primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures are formed

Nucleic Acids

• Contain genetic information: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)
• Composed of nucleotides: sugar molecule, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base (A, C, G, T, or U)

Lipids

• Provide energy storage, composed of fatty acids and glycerol
• Examples: triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids
• Functions: energy storage, cell membrane structure, hormone regulation

Cellular Energy

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

• Energy currency of the cell, composed of adenine, ribose, and three phosphate groups
• ATP hydrolysis releases energy for cellular processes

Water and Its Properties

• Makes up 70-90% of cell composition
• Solvent properties: high surface tension, high heat capacity, cohesion and adhesion
• Importance in cellular processes: temperature regulation, chemical reactions, cell turgor pressure

Chemical Reactions Inside the Cell

• Metabolic pathways: catabolism (breakdown), anabolism (synthesis)
• Types of reactions: oxidation and reduction, hydrolysis and condensation, acid-base reactions

Enzymes

• Biological catalysts that increase reaction rates without being consumed
• Specificity: substrate binding, active site
• Factors affecting enzyme activity: temperature, pH, concentration, inhibitors and activators