Module 4 - The Chemical Basis of Life (Part 2)

OTHER IMPORTANT ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Carbohydrates - are the most abundant class of organic compounds found in living organisms.
- major source of metabolic energy, both for plants and for animals that depend on plants for food
- the formulas of many carbohydrates can be written as carbon hydrates, Cn(H2O)n, hence their name.
- divided into four: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.

Protein - are organic compounds made of amino acids (see figure below) arranged in a linear chain and folded into a globular form

- proteins are essential parts of organisms and participate in virtually every process within cells
- many proteins are enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions and are vital to metabolism
- proteins also have structural or mechanical functions, such as actin and myosin in muscle and the proteins in the cytoskeleton, which form a system of scaffolding that maintains cell shape

Fats - consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water.
- may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure and composition.
- "oils" is usually used to refer to fats that are liquids at normal room temperature, while "fats" is usually used to refer to fats that are solids at normal room temperature
- play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, insulating body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting healthy cell function
- serve as energy stores for the body

- proteins are essential parts of organisms and participate in virtually every process within cells
- many proteins are enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions and are vital to metabolism
- proteins also have structural or mechanical functions, such as actin and myosin in muscle and the proteins in the cytoskeleton, which form a system of scaffolding that maintains cell shape

Fats - consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water.
- may be either solid or liquid at room temperature, depending on their structure and composition.
- "oils" is usually used to refer to fats that are liquids at normal room temperature, while "fats" is usually used to refer to fats that are solids at normal room temperature
- play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, insulating body organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting healthy cell function
- serve as energy stores for the body

Nucleic acids -  macromolecule composed of chains of monomeric nucleotides (see figure below)
 -  macromolecule composed of chains of monomeric nucleotides (see figure below)

- these molecules carry genetic information or form structures within cells
- most common nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA)


Enzymes – catalyze specific chemical reactions
- increase the speed of a chemical reaction without being consumed by the reaction.
- mostly proteins
- lowers the EA of a chemical reaction

EA (energy of activation) – energy required to break the existing bonds and begin the reaction

Some enzymes have two components
Apoenzyme – protein
Cofactor – chemical component that maybe inorganic or organic

Inorganic cofactors are usually trace elements like Fe, Cu and Mn

Examples of organic cofactors (also called coenzymes)  are vitamins.

Vitamins – organic compounds required in the diet in relatively small amounts for normal biochemical functioning.