2 Molecular Biology

2.1 Molecules to metabolism

2.1.1 Living processes and chemistry - Molecular biology explains living
processes in terms of the chemical substances involved.

The structure of DNA was

discovered in 1953

The central idea “DNA makes RNA

makes protein”.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_chemical_structure.svg
2.1.2 Carbon compounds - Carbon atoms can form four covalent bonds
allowing a diversity of stable compounds to exist.

Only the 15th most abundant

element on the planet.

Carbon atoms
• Form four covalent bonds
with other different atoms
2.1.3 Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates
• Basic formula (CH2O)x
• Monomers are commonly ring shaped molecules

Glucose – a hexose
(6 carbon) monomer

Pentose (5 carbon) monomers

2.1.3 Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids.

Lipids
• Non-polar, insoluble in water
• Triglycerides (fats – solid at room temperature and oils – liquid at room temperature),
phospholipids, wax, and steroids
2.1.3 Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids.

Proteins
• Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and
nitrogen (additionally sulphur, but not
in all proteins)
• Made of amino acids
2.1.3 Life is based on carbon compounds including carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins and nucleic acids.

Nucleic Acids
• Contain carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen & phosphorus

• Monomer - nucleotides

• Nucleotides consist of
base, sugar and
phosphate groups
covalently bonded
Skills - Drawing molecular diagrams of glucose, ribose, a saturated fatty
acid and a generalized amino acid.
Skills - Drawing molecular diagrams of glucose, ribose, a saturated fatty
acid and a generalized amino acid.

Figure 1. The basic structures of glucose, amino acids, fatty acids and ribose.
Skills - Drawing molecular diagrams of glucose, ribose, a saturated fatty
acid and a generalized amino acid.
Skills - Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino
acids from molecular diagrams.
Skills - Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino
acids from molecular diagrams.
Skills - Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino
acids from molecular diagrams.
Skills - Identification of biochemicals such as sugars, lipids or amino
acids from molecular diagrams.
2.1.4 Metabolism, Anabolism and Catabolism

Metabolism - all the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell or organism.

Anabolism - the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules.

Catabolism - the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules.

Hydrolysis - the breaking of chemical bonds by the addition of water molecules.

Condensation - two smaller organic molecules combine to form a larger molecule with the
accompanied formation of water or some other simple molecule.
2.1.4 Metabolism, Anabolism and Catabolism

Examples of Anabolism by Condensation

Maltose synthase condenses two A ribosome condenses two

molecules of glucose into maltose amino acids into a dipeptide
forming a Glycosidic bond forming a peptide bond
2.1.4 Metabolism, Anabolism and Catabolism

Examples of Catabolism by Hydrolysis

A protease hydrolyses a Lactase hydrolyses Lactose

dipeptide into two amino acids into Glucose and Galactose
breaking the peptide bond breaking the Glycosidic bond
Application - Urea as an example of a compound that is produced by
living organisms but can also be artificially synthesized.

Urea (CO(NH2)2)
Natural Function: Metabolic waste
哺乳动物、两栖动物和一些鱼的尿中含有尿素，鸟和爬行
动物排放的是尿酸 , ，因為其氮代谢过程使用的水量比较少。

Artificial Function: Nitrogen fertilizer for growing crops (2NH3 +

CO2 → CO2NH4NH2 → CO(NH2)2 + H2O)
Nature of Science: The artificial synthesis of urea helped to falsify
vitalism.

Wöhler accidentally synthesized urea in 1828

Vitalism
- living organisms were composed of organic chemicals that could only be produced in living
organisms because a vital force was needed