Chapter 2:

The Molecules of the Cell

subunits and macromolecules

sugars and polysaccharides
fatty acids and lipids
amino acids and proteins
nucleotides and nucleic acids
interactions between macromolecules

References 4th ed: p. 50-64

(3rd ed: p. 50-63)

The four major families of

organic molecules in the cell

Formation of macromolecules
by condensation reactions

Subunits are added to one end of a growing chain by

dehydration synthesis.
Reverse reaction: _________

Formation of disaccharides

The condensation of
two monosaccharides
produces one disaccharide.

Fatty acids

A) structural formula of
a ________ fatty acid
B) ball-and-stick model
C) space-filling model

Triacylglycerols

glycerol

fatty acids

Fatty acids are stored as energy reserves (fats and oils)

through an ester linkage to glycerol to form triacylglycerols.

Fats
(Triacylglycerols)

Fatty acids
Saturated fatty acids tend to form aggregates and deposits
within the walls of blood vessels causing atherosclerosis
of coronary blood vessels (coronary heart disease)
Unsaturated fatty acids:
cis unsaturated fatty acids do not form solid aggregates
trans unsaturated fatty acids behave similar to saturated
fatty acids = they tend to aggregate and form solid
deposits

Fatty acids

Alkene

Alkane
hydrogenation

incomplete

Alkene
stereoisomer

Fatty acids

Oleic acid is a cis unsaturated fatty acid that comprises

up to 80% of olive oil.

Elaidic acid is a trans unsaturated fatty acid and a major

trans fat found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Both fatty acids are isomers of the same molecule.

Phospholipids

Phospholipids in biological membranes

Phospholipids
Phospholipids in biological membranes typically contain
one saturated and one unsaturated fatty acid:
saturated fatty acids make the membrane less fluid
because they tend to aggregate
cis unsaturated fatty acids reduce membrane rigidity
because they do not form solid aggregates

Amino acids

________, one of the simplest amino acids.

Amino acids
-NH3

-COO-

-carbon

R group
(-CH3)
Ionized alanine

A polypeptide

Peptide bonds

Adenosine triphosphate: a nucleotide

ATP

Nomenclature of nucleosides and nucleotides

Ribonucleosides
Guanosine
Adenosine
Cytidine
Uridine

Ribonucleosides or
Deoxyribonucleosides
+
phosphates
= Nucleotides

Deoxyribonucleosides
Deoxyguanosine
Deoxyadenosine
Deoxycytidine
Deoxythymidine

add:
monophosphate
diphosphate
triphosphate

A nucleic acid

The use of ATP as an energy carrier in the cell

A cyclic nucleotide

Cyclic adenosine monophosphate

(cAMP)

The relative abundance of

macromolecules in cells

Polymers: chains of monomeric subunits

Polysaccharides, polypeptides, and polynucleotides form

from the covalent bonding of their monomeric subunits.

The interaction between macromolecules

Interactions between macromolecules are mediated by

noncovalent bonds of compatible groups.

The interaction between macromolecules

Noncovalent interactions between a protein and its

bound ligand, in this example, cyclic AMP

The interactions of macromolecules in cells

result in macromolecular complexes

The assembly of a ribosome.