Biomolecules Overview

Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are biological molecules produced by cells or living organisms.
• Organic compounds are compounds composed of one or more carbon and hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to other atoms.
• Macromolecules are large molecules that are polymers composed of repeating monomer units.
• A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks.
• Monomers are the smaller units that combine to form polymers.
• Polymerization is the process of linking monomers together to form polymers.
• Dehydration/Condensation reaction is when two or more monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule.
• Hydrolysis reaction breaks down of molecules due to reaction with water.
• Amphipathic/amphiphilic molecules have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts.
• Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules that are critical components of cell membranes.
• High-energy bonds, like phosphoanhydride bonds, are important for storing and releasing energy.
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a crucial molecule for energy transfer in cells.
• There are four major classes of biomolecules : Nucleic acids, Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Lipids.

Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids store, express, and transmit genetic information.
• They are polymers of nucleotides.
• DNA is the genetic information of all living things, a double-stranded molecule.
• RNA is a nucleic acid that plays a role in protein synthesis.
• The structural components of the nucleic acid backbone are pentose sugars, nitrogenous bases, and phosphate groups.
• Pentose sugars are one of the components that form the backbone of nucleic acids. The pentose sugars include deoxyribose and ribose which are five- carbon sugars.
• Nitrogenous bases are another important component. There are two types: Purines and Pyrimidines. Purines have a 6-membered ring fused with a 5-membered ring. Pyrimidines contain one 6-membered ring. The nitrogenous bases include adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
• Phosphate groups are responsible for linking the 3′ carbon of one nucleotide to the 5′ carbon of the other. The components are part of the backbone of nucleic acids. Thus, a phosphate group forms a bond between the 3' carbon of one nucleotide and the 5' carbon of another.
• Nucleosides are nitrogenous bases covalently attached to a 5-carbon sugar.
• Nucleotides are a nucleoside plus a phosphate group.
• Chargaff's rules for base pairing state that A pairs with T and G pairs with C, and purines are equal to pyrimidines.
• DNA strands have an antiparallel orientation, meaning they run in opposite directions (5' to 3' and 3' to 5').
• Nucleotides are the monomeric units of nucleic acids.
• The structure of a nucleotide involves a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and phosphate groups.
• Scientists Franklin, Wilkins, Watson, and Crick were vital in determining the structure of DNA which consists of two polynucleotide chains that spiral around an imaginary axis to form a double helix.

Proteins

• Proteins are polymers of amino acids.
• Amino acids differ based on their side chains.
• Side chains are important in properties, structure, and functions of proteins.
• Polypeptides are formed when amino acids are linked together by peptide bonds through a dehydration reaction.
• Proteins consist of one or more polypeptide chains.
• Protein structure includes primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.
• Primary structure is the linear sequence of amino acids.
• Secondary structure includes alpha-helices and beta-sheets, formed by hydrogen bonds.
• Tertiary structure is the three-dimensional arrangement of the polypeptide chain.
• Quaternary structure involves the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains.
• Protein structure determines protein function; function changes with changes in sequence.
• Some proteins exhibit denaturation through factors like pH, salt concentration or temperature.
• proteins have various functions depending on their type, these including but are not limited to: Enzymes, Structural Proteins, Motility Proteins, Regulatory Proteins, Transport Proteins, Hormonal Proteins, Receptor Proteins, and Defensive Proteins.
• An example of a change in primary structure that affects protein function is sickle cell anemia.

This quiz covers essential concepts regarding biomolecules, including their structure, types, and functions. You will learn about organic compounds, macromolecules, and the processes of polymerization and hydrolysis. Test your knowledge on the significance of phospholipids and energy storage in biological systems.