Organic Compounds Essential to Functioning

hydroxyl group

A functional group consisting of a hydrogen atom joined to an oxygen atom by a polar covalent bond. Involved in dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis reactions.

carboxyl group

A -COOH group, found in organic acids (fatty and amino acids)

Amino group (-NH2)

found within amino acids, building blocks of proteins

Methyl group (-CH3)

In an organic molecule, a carbon bonded to three hydrogens. Found in amino acids.

phosphate group

PO4 found in phospholipids and nucleotides

macromolecule

A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

monomer

a molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

Carbohydrates

hydrated carbon; made up of CHO in a 1:2:1 ratio

monsaccharide

A monomer of carbohydrate, simple sugar.

Disacharrides are

two monosaccharides joined together

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose)

Which body cells use glucose?

All, but neurons and RBC's use only glucose for fuel

Lipids

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

Triglycerides

an energy-rich compound made up of a single molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.

saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can attach to the carbon skeleton. Semi-solid at room temperature.

unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid that has one or more double bonds between carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton. Liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

A molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail.

Sterols

A type of lipid based on cholesterol; includes testosterone and estrogen.

porstaglandins

signaling molecule, help regulate blood pressure, sensitize nerves to pain

Protein

An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells

amino acid structure

hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, amine group, and R group

building block of protein

an amino acid

primary protein structure

sequence of a chain of amino acids

secondary protein structure

Alpha helix, beta pleated sheets held together by hydrogen bonds.

tertiary structure of protein

protein structure is formed when the twists and folds of the secondary structure fold again to from a larger 3D structure

Denaturation

loss of normal shape of a protein due to heat or other factor

Enzymes

proteins that act as biological catalysts

substrate

A specific reactant acted upon by an enzyme

Four organic macromolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

DNA

A complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.

RNA

single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar present in RNA

Nitrogenous bases in DNA

adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine

nitrogenous bases in RNA

adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil

Base pairing in DNA

A-T G-C

base pairing in RNA

A - U C - G

ATP

(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work