The Molecules of life

Chocolate is high in saturated fats.

Lactose Intolerance:
Inability to digest Lactose (Main sugar found in milk)
When lactose enters small intestine
o To absorb this sugar digestive cells in the small intestine need to produce a
molecule called lactase
o Lactase: It is an enzyme that helps to breakdown lactose into smaller sugars.
Lactose which is not digested by the small intestine makes its way to the large intestine
o Where bacteria feed on it
o Belch out gaseous- by products
Accumulation of gas produces uncomfortable symptoms

Organic Compounds
Why does carbon play a leading role?

Carbon has ability to form skeletons of large, complex and diverse molecules that are
necessary for lifes functions.
Atom of carbon can share electors with other atoms in four covalent bonds

Carbon Chemistry
Methane:

Abundant in natural gas

Produced by prokaryotes that live in swamps (In the form of swamp gas)
And in digestive tracts of grazing animals

Functional groups: The group of atoms that are directly involved in chemical reactions

Fuel for cells : Energy rich molecules in fats provide fuel for cells.

Giant Molecules from Smaller Building Blocks

Macromolecules:

Polymers : Large molecules made by stringing together many small molecules called monomers

Understand molecules:

How those monomers are attached together

Which monomers are making up the chain

Cells link monomers together to form a polymer through a dehydration reaction.

 Involves removing a molecule of water

Breakdown of polymers occurs by a process called hydrolosis

Large Biological Molecules

Four classes of molecules

Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates
Class of molecules Include sugar and polymers of sugars
In animals: Primary source of dietary energy
Raw material for manufacturing other kinds of organic compounds
In plants: serve as building material for much of the plant body.

Monosaccharaides
Monomers of carbohydrates
They cannot be broken down into smaller sugars
Eg:
o Glucose found in softdrinks
o Fructose fruits
C6H12O6 molecular formula
Main fuel molecules for the cellular work

Why does fructose taste much sweeter than glucose?

The rearrangement of functional groups

The arrangement of atoms affect the molecular shape and its properties

Why is glucose solution dissolved in water given as IV to sick or injured patients?

The rapid conversion of glucose to cellular energy

It provides immediate energy source to tissues in need of repair

Disaccharides
/Double sugar
Constructed from two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction.
Eg: Lactose (Milk sugar) = Glucose + Galactose
Maltose
o Found in germinating seeds
o Used in making beer, malt whiskey, liquor
o Molecule consists of two glucose monomers joined together
 Sucrose
o Consists of Glucose monomer linked to a fructose monomer
o Main carbohydrate in plant sap
o It nourished all parts of the plant
o Sucrose can be extracted from
Stems of sugarcane
Roots of sugar beets
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
o Another common sweetener
o Made by using an enzyme that converts natural glucose in corn syrup to
sweeter fructose.
o Clear, goopy liquid (55% fructose)
o Cheaper than fructose
o Easier to mix into drinks and processed foods

Disadvantages of Sugar?

Major cause of tooth decay

Increases the risk
o Developing diabetes
o Heart disease
Empty Calories Only contain negligible amount of nutrients other than
carbohydrates

Polysaccharides
Complex carbohydrates
Long chain of sugars
Polymers of monosaccharaides
Starch
o Long strings of glucose monomers
o Plant cells store starch
o Eg of foods: Potatoes, Wheat, Corn
Cellulose
o Is a major component of wood
o Walls of plant cells.
o Polymer of glucose

How can animals digest starch?

Enzymes within their digestive system break bonds between glucose monomers through
hydrolysis reactions
Excess glucose is stored in the form of a polysaccharide called glycogen(stored in liver
and muscle cells).

Why do some athletes Carbo-load before an athletic event?

 Most of the glycogen is stored in liver and muscle cells
Which break down the glycogen and release glucose when you need energy
Starch is converted into glycogen which is then available for rapid use during physical
activity the next day

Lipids
Disadvantages:

Lead to cardiovascular disease

o Lipids containing deposits called plaque buildup along the inside walls of blood
vessels reducing blood flow and increasing risk of heart attacks and strokes
Plant and fish fats are high in unsaturated fatty acids
o Less likely to form solids
o Liquid at room temp
o Eg: Vegetable oil and fish oil
Cocoa butter:
o Mix of saturated and unsaturated fat M.P near body temp
o Thus it stays solid at Room temp, but melts in your mouth
Hydrogenation:
o Converting unsaturated fats to saturated fats by adding hydrogen
o By product is trans fat
Type of unsaturated fat that is bad for your health
Found in French fries
Benefits of fats?
o Fats containing omega-3 fatty acids
Reduce risk of heart disease
Relieve symptoms of arthritis
Inflammatory bowel disease

Unsaturated Fats:

o Fats with less than the maximum number of hydrogen due to double bond between
carbons

Steroids

o All steroids have

o Carbon skeleton
o With four fused rings
o Cholesterol
o Associated with cardiovascular disease
o Key component in cell membranes
o Base steroid
From which body produces other steroids such as
 Hormones Estrogen, Testosterone (Devl. Of male and female
sex characteristics)
o Anabolic steroids are prescribed to treat diseases that cause muscle wasting Eg
Cancer and AIDS
o Used to build up muscles

Disadvantages of steroids:

o Roid Rage: violent mood swings

o Depression
o Liver damage
o High cholesterol
o Infertility
o Reduced sex drive
o Shrunken testicles

Proteins
o Is a Polymer of amino acids monomers
o Worker bees of the body

Monomers of proteins: Amino Acids

All proteins are made by stringing together a common set of 20 kings of anmiko acids.