What is Life Made of?

• Physical and Chemical sciences alone

may not completely explain the nature of
life, but they at least provide the essential
framework for such an explanation.
• All students of life science must have a
fundamental understanding of organic
chemistry and biochemistry.
 Organic Chemistry
• Organic chemistry is the study of Carbon
compounds.
• Organic compounds are compounds
composed primarily of a Carbon skeleton.
• All living things are composed of organic
compounds.
 Polymers ands Monomers
• Each of these types of molecules are
polymers that are assembled from single
units called monomers.
• Each type of macromolecule is an
assemblage of a different type of
monomer.
 Monomers
Macromolecule Monomer
Carbohydrates Monosaccharide

Lipids Not always polymers;

Hydrocarbon chains
Proteins Amino acids

Nucleic acids Nucleotides

 How do monomers form
polymers?
• In condensation reactions (also called
dehydration synthesis), a molecule of
water is removed from two monomers as
they are connected together.
 Hydrolysis
• In a reaction opposite to condensation, a
water molecule can be added (along with
the use of an enzyme) to split a polymer in
two.
 Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are made of carbon,
hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, always in a
ratio of 1:2:1.
• Carbohydrates are the key source of
energy used by living things.
• The building blocks of carbohydrates are
sugars, such as glucose and fructose.
 Carbohydrates
• What do the roots •
mono-, di-, oligo-, and
poly mean?
• Each of these roots
can be added to the
word saccharide to
describe the type of
carbohydrate you
have.
How do two monosaccharides combine
to make a polysaccharide?
•
Polysaccharides
 Lipids
• Lipids are molecules that consist of long
hydrocarbon chains. Attaching the three
chains together is usually a glycerol
molecule. Lipids are NONpolar.
 Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fat
•
 Proteins
• Proteins are building blocks of structures
called amino acids. Proteins are what
your DNA codes to make (we will talk
about this in great detail in a month or so).
• A peptide bond forms between amino
acids by dehydration synthesis.
 Levels of Protein Structure
•
 Protein Structure
Level Description
Primary The amino acid
sequence
Helices and Sheets
Secondary
Disulfide bridges
Tertiary
Multiple polypeptides
Quaternary connect
 Life, Cells, and
Thermodynamics
•Biochemistry = Chemistry of life
•Combination of Chemistry and biology
•The study of structure and interactions of molecules
and atoms; Also the biology – structure and
interactions of cells and organisms
•Uses physical and chemical principles to explain
biology at the molecular level
• Requires sophisticated instruments for dissect –
spectrophotometer, chromatography
•Reveals the workings of natural world
•Understanding the diseases and mechanisms
Important Compounds and
Functional Groups
 Cellular Architecture
• Cellular components
• Prokaryotes and eukaryotes
• Common cellular organization: Organelle
– Membrane - Cell – Tissue – Organ -
Organism
• Components of life: Amino acid (a.a.),
Carbohydrate, Nucleic acid, Fatty acid
 Prokaryote and Eukaryote
Prokaryote Eukaryote
Structure Peptidoglycan Extracellular
matrix;
Cytoskeleton to
maintain structure
Membrane 45%:55% 50: 50 lipid:
lipid:protein. protein.
Enzyme
embedded
Nuclear No nucleus With nucleus
Ribosome 50S and 30S = 60S and 40S =
70S 80S
Organelles Absence of Presence of
organelles organelles
Extra 3000 to 6000 Larger size,
components more than
10000
components
Prokaryote and Eukaryote

Prokaryote and eukaryote cell structure from Wikipedia

 Archaea
• Extremophiles - Halophiles and
thermophiles
• Extremozymes – Taq polymerase

Prokaryote and eukaryote cell structure from Wikipedia

 Biological Structure and
Interactions
• Van der Waals interactions
• Hydrogen bonds
• Ionic bonds
• Hydrophobic interactions
 References
• Wikipedia
• Biochemistry The Molecular of Basis of
Life 3rd Edition. Trudy McKee and James
R. McKee, McGraw-Hill.
• Principles of Biochemistry. 3rd Edition.
Voet et al. Pratt. Wiley.