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. Carbon Base Macros

Why? os

From the smallest single-celled organism to the tallest tree, all life depends on the properties and reactions
of four classes of organic (carbon-based) compounds—carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic
acids. These organic molecules are the building blocks of all living things, and are responsible for most of
the structure and functions of the body, including energy storage, insulation, growth, repair, communica-
tion, and transfer of hereditary information. Simple organic molecules can be joined together to form all
the essential biological molecules needed for life.

Model 1 — Molecules of Life

OH H H HO

HO OH - H OH
H OH . H OH OH =H
Glucose - Galactose Fructose

Lipids ° ;
H HO—C—(CH 2)42CH3 Hi BPMN NNN
ror H-c—o CHg
0
H ahs; OH 16h | er CHE _—_
iyCHq H-G—OCO(CH es
»)7CH=CH(CH'9)7CH,
H-C-OH oO H-G—Ow PPS
IIL STS
ek | H G
- HO—C—(CH>)44CH3 l
' Glycerol — Fatty acids Triglyceride (fat or oil)
Proteins (amino acids) . VA R side chain

H\ VA H\ Wf ? Ho \ | oY ”
NGG N—C—G NK ~<—~ Carboxylic
H | OH H | OH Hf 4 OH acid group

Alanine Cysteine Amine group

Nucleic acids (nucleotides) NH>

N
2 -

A <—— Sugar
Phosphate group OH OH
 . Use Model 1 to show which atoms are present in each type of molecule by listing the symbol for
each atom included. Carbohydrate has been done for you.
a. Carbohydrate— C, H, O . ‘¢, Amino acid—
b. Lipid— d. Nucleic acid—
Which type of molecule includes an example with a long-chain carbon backbone? -

. Inthe molecule referred to in the previous question, what is the dominant element attached to
the carbon backbone?

The fatty acid chain of the lipids is often referred to asa hydrocarbon chain. Discuss with your
group why the chain is given this name and write a one-sentence definition for a hydrocarbon.

. Which molecule has a central carbon atom with four different components around it?

Which molecule has a sugar, nitrogenous base, and phosphate group?

Discuss with your group members some similarities among all four types of molecules. List as
many as you can. ,

. What is the chemical formula of the first carbohydrate molecule shown?

. What three structural groups shown do all amino acids haye in common?

10. There are 20 naturally-occurring amino acids, and each one only varies in the structure of the
R side chain. Two amino acids are shown in Model 1. What are the R side chains in each?

‘Read This!
During chemical reactions,.the bonds in molecules are continually broken and reformed. To break a
bond, energy must be absorbed. When bonds are formed, energy is released. If more energy is-teléased
~ than-absorbed during a chemical change, the process can be used.as a s6utce of energy. A general rule for...
processes such as respiration is the more carbon atoms there are in a molecule, the more energy that
-molecule can provide to the organism when it is used as food.
1 OT” = re
- y Bo. Using the talptnaation from above: is a carbohydrate or lipid
a more likely to be a good source of
} energy for an organism?

Modaa

0 R 0
ne 0 H He | If
: + N—C—G
OH H | OH
CH,OH

Glucose Fructose

H HO -- HO

CH,OH
.) 0 H H

Sucrose

C. 1
HI BPO CA LO LD TOS
Heo" CH,
H-C—OH - Monoglyceride
H-G—OH +
Ho HO—C—(CH 9)44CH,
Fatty acid

He
i
aon CH,

moyen

H-G
—_ NC CH») daCHs
44CH + HO
a He . MO ee 2 _-
4 ;
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4
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Digyetdas
 12. What are the reactants of reaction A?

13. ‘What are'the products of reaction A?

14. Each of the reactants in reaction A is a single sugar molecule, also called a monosaccharide. What
prefix before saccharide would you use to describe sucrose?

15. What are the reactants of reaction B?

16. When the two molecules in reaction B are joined togethei, what other two molecules are pro-
duced?

17. What product do.all three reactions in Model 2 have in common?

—————_.

Read This!
When sugars are joined together the new bond that forms is a glycosidic bond. When amino acids are
joined the new bond that forms is a peptide bond. When fatty acids are joined to a glycerol the bond that
holds them is an ester bond.
18. On the diagrams in Model 2, circle and label the glycosidic, peptide, and ester bonds.

a. These reactions are all referred to as dehydration synthesis or condensation reactions, With your
group develop an explanation for why these terms are used to describe these reactions.

20. These reactions can also be reversed, breaking the large molecule into its. individual molecules.
What substance would need to be added in order to reverse the reaction?

21. Lysis means to split or separate. What prefix would you add to lysis to mean separate or split
using water?

22. Using your answers to the previous two questions, what word is uséd to describe the reaction that
uses water to break apart a large molecule? _f