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    Carbon and The Molecular Diversity of Life

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    E. Watson
    Carbon is the backbone of biological molecules due to its ability to form diverse and complex structures through covalent bonding. It is tetravalent, allowing it to form four covalent bonds and join with other carbon atoms to form large molecules. The versatility of carbon enables it to combine with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements to generate the wide variety of organic compounds like proteins, DNA, carbohydrates and lipids that make up living things. Functional groups like hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amino groups impart unique properties to organic molecules and enable biochemical reactions.

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    Carbon and The Molecular Diversity of Life

    Uploaded by

    E. Watson
    93 views31 pages
    Carbon is the backbone of biological molecules due to its ability to form diverse and complex structures through covalent bonding. It is tetravalent, allowing it to form four covalent bonds and join with other carbon atoms to form large molecules. The versatility of carbon enables it to combine with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements to generate the wide variety of organic compounds like proteins, DNA, carbohydrates and lipids that make up living things. Functional groups like hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amino groups impart unique properties to organic molecules and enable biochemical reactions.

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    Dr. Lee ann Frederick UTA General Biology Lecture Campbell and Reece Texrbook eight edition

    Original Title

    Lec 4

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    Carbon is the backbone of biological molecules due to its ability to form diverse and complex structures through covalent bonding. It is tetravalent, allowing it to form four covalent bonds and join with other carbon atoms to form large molecules. The versatility of carbon enables it to combine with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements to generate the wide variety of organic compounds like proteins, DNA, carbohydrates and lipids that make up living things. Functional groups like hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amino groups impart unique properties to organic molecules and enable biochemical reactions.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    93 views31 pages

    Carbon and The Molecular Diversity of Life

    Uploaded by

    E. Watson
    Carbon is the backbone of biological molecules due to its ability to form diverse and complex structures through covalent bonding. It is tetravalent, allowing it to form four covalent bonds and join with other carbon atoms to form large molecules. The versatility of carbon enables it to combine with hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements to generate the wide variety of organic compounds like proteins, DNA, carbohydrates and lipids that make up living things. Functional groups like hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl and amino groups impart unique properties to organic molecules and enable biochemical reactions.

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    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 31

    Carbon and the Molecular

    Diversity of Life
    Chapter 4
    9/3
    Carbon- Backbone of Biological
    Molecules
    • All living organisms are composed of carbon based
    molecules
    • Cells 70–95% water
    • 5-30% carbon-based compounds
    • Proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids

    • Carbon interact with other atoms diversely


    • Form large, complex, different molecules
    Organic Chemistry
    • Study of carbon compounds
    • Any compound containing carbon- organic
    • Simplex or complex
    • Contain H atoms
    • % of major elements (C, H, O, N, S, P) pretty uniform
    between organisms
    • Even in the same proportions, carbon versatile enough to mak
    a human, a dog, a sunflower, an oak tree, a jellyfish
    Organic Chemistry
    Purify, improve yield food, medicine, fabrics
    Synthesizing complex molecules from living
    matter- impossible
    Distinction between organic vs nonorganic
    ◦ Organic- only arise within living matter
    ◦ Inorganic- anything found in nonliving matter

    Vitalism-organic compounds arise only in


    organisms
    Organic Chemistry
    Urea- byproduct in urine
    Acetic acid- from inorganic

    substances

    1953, Miller- University of Chicago


    ◦ Disproves the vitalism theory, simulated chemical conditions
    on primitive earth
    ◦ Spontaneously generated organic compounds origin of life

    Mechanism -all matter are governed by physical and


    chemical laws
    Carbon Diversity
    Bonds to 4 other atoms
    Electron configuration determines the kinds and
    number of bonds an atom will form with other atoms

    shell 1

    shell 2

    *Needs to fill 4 spots


    Carbon Bonds
    4valence electrons
    Forms 4 covalent bonds- tetravalence
    ◦ Large, complex molecules possible
    Single covalent bond- one electron shared
    Carbon Bonds
    Molecules with multiple carbons- each C bonds
    to 4 other atoms
    ◦ Tetrahedral shape- angles 109.5
    ◦ Single covalent bonds
    Carbon Bonds
    2carbon atoms joined by a double bond,
    molecule has a flat shape
    Share 2 electrons- same plane
    Carbon Bonding
    Electron configuration allows covalent
    compatibility with many different elements
    Most frequent partners hydrogen, oxygen,
    nitrogen

    Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon


    (valence = 1) (valence = 2) (valence = 3) (valence = 4)
    Examples
    CO2
    ◦O C O
    ◦ C makes 2 double covalent bonds
    ◦ Total of 4 covalent bonds

    Urea CO(NH2)2
    ◦ O
    H C H
    N N
    H H
    Molecular Diversity- Carbon Skeleton
    Everything branches off
    Skeletons vary
    ◦ Straight, branched, rings
    ◦ Length
    Hydrocarbons
    Organic molecules consist of only carbon & hydrogen
    ◦ Lipids or fats
    ◦ Hydrophobic

    Petroleum - fossil fuel


    ◦ Partially decomposed remains of organisms millions
    of yrs ago
    Hydrocarbons
    Hydrocarbons can undergo reactions that release
    a large amount of energy
    ◦ Body stores fat
    Isomers
    Compounds with same molecular formula but different
    structures and properties
    ◦ Structural
    ◦ Geometric
    ◦ Enantiomers

    C5H12
    Structural Isomers
    Have different covalent arrangements of
    their atoms or location of double bond
    ◦ C8H8 18 possible structures
    ◦ C20H43 366,319 possible structures

    C5H12
    Geometric Isomers
    Have the same covalent arrangements, but
    differ in spatial arrangements
    ◦ Inflexibility of double bonds

    cis isomer: The two Xs trans isomer: The two Xs


    are on the same side. are on opposite sides.
    Enantiomer Isomers
    Isomers that are mirror images of each other
    ◦ Asymmetric carbon- attached to 4 different atoms
    (groups of atoms)
    ◦ Can be arranged in 2 different ways
    ◦ One biologically active, other inactive
    Enantiomers & Pharmaceutical Co.
    Not equally effective
    ◦ L-dopa- Parkinson’s Disease
    ◦ D-dopa not effective
    Harmful- Thalidomide 50-60’s
    ◦ Mixture of enantiomers- pregnant women
    ◦ Reduced morning sickness
    ◦ Severe birth defects
    Structure is important!
    Functional groups
    Certain groups of atoms are often attached to skeletons of organic molecules

    Functional groups- components of organic molecules most commonly


    involved in chemical reactions

    Number & arrangement of functional groups give each molecule its unique
    properties
    Estradiol

    Female lion

    Testosterone

    Male lion
    Most Important Functional Groups

    ◦ Hydroxyl group
    ◦ Carbonyl group
    ◦ Carboxyl group
    ◦ Amino group
    ◦ Sulfhydryl group
    ◦ Phosphate group
    Hydroxyl Group -OH
    Alcohols (names
    usually end in -ol)
    (may be written HO—)

    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

    Polar- result of the


    electronegative oxygen atom
    drawing electrons toward itself
    Ethanol
    Attracts water molecules, helping
    dissolve organic compounds
    Carbonyl Group CO
    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES
    May be structural isomers with
    different properties.

    Ketone- carbonyl group is


    within a carbon skeleton Acetone

    Aldehyde- carbonyl group is


    at the end of the carbon skeleton

    Propanal
    Carboxyl Group -COOH
    Carboxylic acids
    (organic acids)

    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

    Acidic properties –it is a source of H+


    Acetic Acid
    The covalent bond between O & H so polar
    that H+ dissociate reversibly

    Acetic acid Acetate ion

    Ionic form called a carboxylate group


    Amino Group -NH2
    Amines

    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES
    Acts as a base; can pick up a H+ from Glycine
    the surrounding solution
    amine & a carboxylic acid
    (compounds with both groups
    are called amino acids)

    nonionized ionized

    Ionized- charge of 1+ under cellular conditions


    Sulfhydryl Group -SH
    Thiols
    (may be written HS—)

    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES

    2 sulfhydryl groups can Ethanethiol


    interact to help stabilize protein
    structure
    Phosphate Group –OPO 3
    2-

    Organic Phosphates

    FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES Glycerol phosphate

    Makes the molecule an anion

    Can transfer energy between organic molecules


    Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
    Organicphosphate molecule- energy source
    Adenosine attached to 3 phosphate groups

    1 2 3
    Energy Release
    The Chemical Elements of Life
    Living matter: C, O, H, N, S, P
    ◦ Form strong covalent bonds

    Carbon- diverse organic molecules possible

    Variation at the molecular level lies at the foundation of all biological diversity

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