Introduction to Organic
Chemistry
BIO 231
Anatomy and Physiology
Organic Chemistry
Branch of chemistry which
deals with carbon compounds
Carbon compounds held
together mostly by bonds
Carbon chains make up the
backbone of organic molecules
Functional Groups
Group of atoms which
behave chemically in a certain way
-COOH -
carboxyl group
-NH2 - amino group
-SH - sulhydryl group
- CO - carbonyl
-PO4 - group
-S-S- - disulfide group
Stereoisomers
Two molecules which have
exactly the same atoms - in the same sequence - except they differ in spatial
orientation of the functional groups
D
isomers - dextro - handed
L
isomers - levo - left handed
Differences biologically
important - since only L-amino acids and D-sugars can be used by all animal
eg.
- enzymes interact in stereo-specific ways in chemical reactions
Macromolecules
Large array of unit
molecules
Proteins
----------- Amino acids
Polysaccharides
---- Monosaccharides
Lipids
------------- Glycerol and fatty acids
Nucleic
Acids ------ Nucleotides
Unit Molecules
Small organic molecules
Macromolecule Synthesis
2 unit molecules
covalently bonded
A
H+ is removed from one unit molecule
An
OH- is removed from the next
As H2O forms -
synthesis occur
Large # of unit molecules
= a polymer
Broken down by addition
of H2O - Hydrolysis
Proteins
Macromolecules which make
up 1/2 the organic material of our bodies
Large polymers which can
have a structural function
e.g. keratin- nails and
hair
connective tissue -
tendons and
Allow muscle to contract
(actin and myosin)
Another role - enzymes
organic
calalysts - speed up chemical reactions
Amino Acids
Make up proteins
Two functional groups
Amino
group -- (-NH2)
Carboxylic
acid group -- (-COOH)
Amino Acids
Linking Amino Acids -
Peptides
Levels of Proteins
Structure
Primary - linear sequence
of AAs
Secondary - folding of
the peptide - into a helix or sheet
Due
to hydrogen bonding between carboxyl portion of a peptide bond and the amino
group of a peptide bond further down the the chain
Primary & Secondary
Structure
Levels of Proteins
Structure
Tertiary - 3d folding of
the a helical chain
Represents
the lowest energy state (preferred state) for an AA chain
Quaternary - When 2 or
more peptide chains link
eg.
hemoglobin - chains
Tertiary and Quaternary
Structure
Organic Chemistry 2
BIO 231
Anatomy and Physiology
Carbohydrates
Compounds of carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen
H and O in same
proportions as in
2- H atoms and 1- O atom
per carbon atom
-CH2O
# of carbons low (3 to 7)
- monosaccharide
Larger carbohydrates
created by linking several monosaccharides
Glucose
6 carbons - Hexose
C6H12O6
Most common 6 carbon
sugar
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Glycogen
Animal starch
Highly branched polymer
of glucose
Glucose converted in the
to glycogen
Glycogen
Starch and Cellulose
Polysaccharides of plants
Starch - like glycogen
but not as highly branched
Source of in our diets
Cellulose - structural
compound in plants
cannot be digested -
called fiber
Common Lipids
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
Steroids
Prostaglandins
Triglycerides
Unit molecules
Glycerol
Fatty
acids
Hydrocarbon chains with carboxyl group
Usually even # of carbons in humans
Saturated - only bonds
Unsaturated - double bonds
Fatty Acids
Triglycerides
Phospholidids
Similar to neutral fats
Contain phosphate group
This
portion is
Also contain -
hydrocarbon chain - hydrophobic
Phospholipid - Lecithin
Steroids
Basic structure four
interconnected carbon rings
Nonpolar, insoluble in
water
Physiologically
Cholesterol -biological
precursor of many steroids
Some
Sex hormones
Adrenal hormones
Cholesterol
Steroids
Prostaglandins
Regulatory Functions
1. Blood vessel
diameter
2. Inflammation
3. Clotting
Nucleotides
DNA AND RNA are polymers
of nucleotides
Complex of three unit
molecules
Phosphate
5 carbon sugar
DNA - Deoxyribose
RNA - Ribose
Nitrogen containing base
Nucleotide
DNA Bases
Nucleic Acids
Adenosine Triphosphate
(ATP)
Nucleotide
Composition
Adenine
Ribose
3 Phosphate groups
High Energy molecule
Phosphate bonds broken -
energy released
Called “Energy
Currency” of Cells
ATP