Biochemistry Notes

You are what you eat!?

Chemistry – study of what substances are
made of and how they change and combine.
• Each different kind of atom is a
different element.
Examples of elements:
C – Carbon H – Hydrogen
O – Oxygen N – Nitrogen
• Two or more elements combine to
make a compound.
Examples of compounds –
H2O, CO2, HCl, NaCl
• Compounds are classified into 2 groups:
1. Inorganic Compounds – come from nonliving
substances (In = not Organic = living)
Ex: H2O is the universal solvent because of its bent
molecular shape and polarity. Water dissolves
other polar compounds by pulling them apart like a
magnet separates metals.
Positive and
negative
ends like the
poles of a
magnet.

*70-80% of your body is water

2. Organic Compounds – come from living
substances
Biochemistry – study of the chemistry of living organisms

• All organic compounds will have the element carbon in them

Exception: CO2 is not organic (CO2 is not
composed of living substances.)
• Organic compounds are usually complex compounds with
many atoms in their structure.
Ex: Glucose – C6H12O6

• Four kinds of organic compounds:

1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Lipids
4. Nucleic acids – DNA and RNA
Note:
***Polysaccharides are composed of
monosaccharides bonded together.
Polysaccharides must be first broken
down to monosaccharides for cells to
use as energy.
 Ex:
glucose,
Carbohydrates fructose
• polysacc
• firstharides
and
preferre
• –Ratio
(many–
d energy
1C:2H:1
sugars)
Fun sourceO
ctio of cellsEx:
Structural Formula n • structur
Glucose
Ex:
of Monosaccharide: Exa al starch
–
mpl support
C6H12O6
***
es
Comp •in• plants
How are
plant
ositio large
starch
n/ macrom
Struc olecules
ture Ex:
formed?
pasta,
Smaller
bread,
sugars
rice
combine
• cellulose
–to make
gives
larger
plant
molecul
cells
es.
rigidity
and
gives us
fiber in
our diet
 rate of
•reactio
food
ns
Proteins • form
elemen
• exampl
ts
es
bones
involve
from
and d–
animal
muscle
s –C, N,
Fun s eggs,
H, O
ctioExa • transp
Structural
nmpl • milk,
ort
protein
Formula of Amino meat
s are
es substa
• food
compo
Acid: (not in nces in of
the exampl
sed
Stru and
readin es
–
ctur
g) outfrom
of
amino
e cells
plants
acids
• fights
• –How
nuts,
diseas
beans
many
e
• differe
enzym
nt
es
amino
acids
are
there?
20
General Structure
of Amino Acid

Alanine Serine
 Protein

Amino Acids
 energy
–
Lip provide
• saturat
s more
ed –
ids energy
contain
pers only
gram single
than bonds,
Func
tion •carbssolid at
fats
Structural Formula • •part of
room
oils
Die
Exam
•cellsteroid
temp.
of Lipid: ples membr
t • sunsatur
inf •anes ated –
waxes
andcontain
o waterp
s
(to be
covere roofdouble
d in
class) coverin
bonds,
gs liquid
at
room
temp.
(Better
for
your
diet.)
 •
store
and
trans
mit
gene
tic
Func infor
tion DN
• mati
Nucleic Exam
ples A
on
Acids • RNA
(par
ent
to
offsp
ring)
Enzymes
• Catalyst—substance that accelerates the rate of a
chemical reaction
Ex: hydrogen peroxide being broken down into water and oxygen
H2O2 H2O + O2 add catalase for FASTER REACTION!
•Enzyme – a kind of catalyst found only in living things
•Enzymes are proteins
•Enzymes change only the speed of the reaction
•Enzymes are never used up in a reaction, so they can be used
over and over
•Enzymes are specific for the reaction they catalyze
Ex: Saltines and amylase
Starch Sugar
• Enzymes allow digestion to occur faster; otherwise the
hamburger you ate last week might still be in your stomach!
• By using enzymes to break chemical bonds in food molecules,