Biophysics: Building Blocks of Life

Building Blocks of Life

• Cells and organisms are composed of vital macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Biological macromolecules consist of polymers, which are large molecules made from smaller subunits called monomers.

Key Vocabulary

• Macromolecule: Large molecules essential for life.
• Polymer: A substance composed of large structural units.
• Carbohydrate: Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
• Lipid: Fatty acids and their derivatives, important for energy storage and membrane structure.
• Protein: Polymers of amino acids serving various functions in the body.
• Amino Acid: Building blocks of proteins, containing an amino group and a carboxyl group.
• Nucleic Acid: Biological molecules that store and transmit genetic information.
• Nucleotide: Monomers of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Importance of Carbon

• Carbon’s four valence electrons enable it to form four covalent bonds, allowing diverse bonding with other atoms.
• Organic chemistry focuses on carbon-based molecules, crucial for all life forms.
• Cells are primarily composed of water, carbon compounds, and salts, with a composition of 72% water and 25% carbon compounds.

Types of Macromolecules

• Carbohydrates: Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; can be classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides.
• Proteins: Composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur; have varied functions including structure and enzyme activity.
• Lipids: Made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; function in energy storage, membrane composition, and signaling.
• Nucleic Acids: Comprised of nucleotides, serving as the basis for genetic information storage and transmission.

Carbohydrates

• Follow the formula (CH2O)n; include types like monosaccharides (simple sugars), disaccharides (two monosaccharides), and polysaccharides (many linked monosaccharides).
• Monosaccharides serve as energy sources and building blocks for more complex carbohydrates.

Lipids and Their Types

• Include oils, fats, waxes, and steroids; serve as energy reserves and membrane components.
• Triglycerides: Composed of three fatty acids and glycerol; categorized into saturated (single bonds) and unsaturated (one or more double bonds) fats.

Proteins

• Formed from amino acid monomers; primarily serve structural and functional roles within organisms.
• Formed through peptide bonds between amino and carboxyl groups.

Nucleic Acids

• Store and transmit genetic information; constructed from nucleotide monomers.
• Two primary types: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), differing in sugar and stranding.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

• A special nucleotide important for energy storage and transfer in cells, containing three phosphate groups.

Role of Biophysics

• Studying the chemical and physical processes of biomolecules aids in understanding biological functions.
• Important topics include molecular forces, transport, thermodynamics, polymer statistics, and conformational changes.

Techniques and Instrumentation in Biophysics

• Spectroscopy: Analyzes absorption, fluorescence; employs X-ray or NMR techniques.
• Laser Tweezers: Manipulate macromolecular interactions and measure forces.
• Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM): Offers 3D observations, measuring and detecting mechanisms.
• Light Microscopy: Techniques include confocal imaging, single-molecule experiments, and fluorescence recovery.

Fundamental Aspects of Physics

• Importance of understanding large atom systems, molecular structures, and dynamic fluctuations.
• Apply quantum physics, particularly in phenomena like photosynthesis.
• Explore complex hierarchy and order-disorder behaviors in biological systems.