Basics of Molecules: Kato Ghudushauri

Basics of molecules
Kato ghudushauri
Formation of • Around 4.6 billion years ago, our solar
system was formed from an enormous
the Solar rotating cloud of gas and dust.
System
The Early Earth
• For its first billion years, Earth was a tumultuous place with violent
volcanic eruptions and near constant collisions with asteroids.
• It is during this time period that scientists believe that life, in the form
of primitive cells, first appeared on the planet.
• Ancient microbes are thought to have formed stratified rock
formations called stromatolites, suggesting that life may have
proliferated as early as 3.5 billion years ago.
Protocells
• Researchers have hypothesized
that the earliest cells (called
protocells) were very simple,
made up of just nucleic acids
(such as DNA or RNA)
surrounded by a membrane.
• These cells may have formed in
warm pools of water or in the
ocean near deep-sea vents.
Recent Research
• In recent years, researchers have found prebiotically feasible pathways
to create a number of additional molecules, including ribonucleotides
and fatty acids, the building blocks of RNA and membranes.
• Some laboratories are now attempting to find conditions that would
allow for the formation of protocells.
Mysteries Remaining
• There are many mysteries that still
remain.
• Molecules created by the Miller-
Urey experiment tend to be an
even mixture of left- and right-
handed isomers, but all life on
Earth use only left-handed amino
acids and right-handed sugars.
Carbon's Unique Properties
• Both the size and electronic structure of
carbon make it uniquely suited for
generating large numbers of molecules.
• In contrast, silicon, which is just below
carbon in the periodic table and also has
four outer-shell electrons, is too large
for its positively charged nucleus to
attract the outer-shell electrons of
neighboring atoms with sufficient force
to hold such large molecules together.
Hydrocarbons
• The simplest group of organic
molecules is hydrocarbons, which
contain only carbon and hydrogen
atoms.
• Ethane (C2H6) is a simple
hydrocarbon consisting of two atoms
of carbon and six atoms of hydrogen.
• As more carbons are added, the
skeletons of organic molecules
increase in length and their structures
become more complex.
Functional Groups
• Hydrocarbons do not occur in significant amounts
within most living cells.
• Many of the organic molecules that are important
in biology contain chains of carbon atoms, like
hydrocarbons, but certain hydrogen atoms are
replaced by various functional groups.
• Functional groups are particular groupings of
atoms that often behave as a unit and give organic
molecules their physical properties, chemical
reactivity, and solubility in aqueous solution.
• Two common linkages between functional groups
are ester bonds (between carboxylic acids and
alcohols) and amide bonds (between carboxylic
acids and amines).
• The organic molecules commonly found
within living cells can be divided into several
categories based on their role in metabolism.
Classificatio • Macromolecules, which contain anywhere
n of from dozens to millions of carbon atoms, can
be divided into four major categories:
Biological proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and
Molecules certain lipids.
• Metabolic intermediates (metabolites) are
by Function small molecules that participate in the
chemical reactions that occur within cells.
Proteins
• Proteins are long chains of amino acids that
fold into specific three-dimensional shapes.
• They are responsible for the structure and
function of cells and perform a wide range
of tasks, including catalyzing chemical
reactions, transporting molecules, and
providing structural support.
• The sequence of amino acids in a protein
determines its three-dimensional structure
and function.
Nucleic Acids
• Nucleic acids are long chains of
nucleotides that store and transmit
genetic information.
• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
stores genetic information and is
passed down from one generation
to the next.
• RNA (ribonucleic acid) helps
translate the genetic information
stored in DNA into proteins.
• Polysaccharides are long chains of
sugars that serve as energy storage
molecules and structural
components of cells.
Polysaccharides • Examples include glycogen, which
is stored in the liver and muscles,
and cellulose, which is a major
component of plant cell walls.
• Lipids are a diverse group of
molecules that are not soluble in
water but are soluble in nonpolar
solvents.
• They serve as energy storage
molecules, structural components
Lipids of cells, and precursors to
hormones and other signaling
molecules.
• Examples include fats, oils,
phospholipids, and steroids.

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