Biological molecules 生物分子复习笔记.docxVIP

Chapter 2: Biological moleculesThe building blocks of life4 most common elements in living organisms: hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen (in order of abundance)Organic molecules always contain carbon and hydrogenMonomers, polymers and macromoleculesMacromolecules: giant biological molecules-polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids (are all polymers)Polymers: giant molecules made from many similar repeating subunits (monomers) joined together in a chainMonomers: relatively simple molecules which are used as basic building blocks for the synthesis of polymers-monosaccharides, amino acids and nucleotidesCarbohydratesAll carbohydrates contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygenHydrate refers to waterGeneral formula: Cx(H2O)yCarbohydrates are divided into 3 main groups: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharidesSaccharide refers to a sugar or sweet substanceMonosaccharidesMonosaccharide: a molecule consisting of a single sugar unit with the general formula (CH2O)nGeneral formula: (CH2O)nMonosaccharides are sugarsClassified according to the number of carbon atoms in each molecule: trioses (3C) pentoses (5C) and hexoses (6C)Common hexoses: glucose, fructose and galactoseCommon pentoses: ribose and deoxyriboseMolecular and structural formulaeMolecular formula for a hexose: C6H12O6Structural formula: a diagram that shows the arrangements of the atomsRing structuresFor pentoses and hexoses, the chain of carbon atoms is long enough to close up on itself and form a more stable ring structureɑ-glucose: hydroxyl group, -OH, on carbon atom 1 is below the ringβ-glocose: -OH is above the ringIsomers: two forms of the same chemicalRoles of monosaccharides in living organismsTwo major functions:A source of energy in respiration: the carbon-hydrogen bonds can be broken to release a lot of energy, which is transferred to help make ATPGlucose-the most important monosaccharide in energy metabolismBuilding blocks for larger moleculesDisaccharides and the glycosidic bondD