Organic Molecules
Lipids and Nucleic Acids
Lipid Structure
• Fats, Oils, Waxes
• Energy for cells, cell structure, insulation
– Lipids & Proteins compose the cell membrane
– Cholesterol: gives cell membrane flexibility
• Stucture (2 parts):
– “Head” of glycerol (polar)
– “Tail” of fatty acid molecules (non-polar)
• Monomer: Fatty Acid
• Polymer: Lipid
Phospholipid
Fats and oils have different types of fatty acids.
Saturated Fats
• Long chain of C-C bonds (all single
bonds)
• Each C is “saturated” with H atoms
• Single bonds are easier to compact =
solid at room temps
• Very common in animal fats
think
Unsaturated Fats
• Long chain of C-C bonds (some double
bonds)
• Unsaturated: Less space for H atoms
• Double bonds make “kinks”, which are not
easily compacted = Liquid at room temps
• Plant fats
think
Which has more H?
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acid Basics
•Contain instructions to build
protein
•2 types
oDNA
oRNA
•Made up of smaller units called
nucleotides
omonomer = nucleotide
oPolymer = nucleic acid
– Nucleotides are made of
• a sugar
• phosphate group
• nitrogen base.
A phosphate group
nitrogen-containing molecule,
called a base
deoxyribose (sugar)
-- The arrangement of the nucleotides determines the
kind of protein created.
Monomers link to make
polymers!
Nucleic Acids
Monomer = Nucleotide
Polymer = Nucleic acid
DNA
• Double Helix: 2 chains of nucleotides
• DNA bases: Adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine
– A pairs with T
– C pairs with G
• DNA stores the info required to make a protein
• Gene: section of DNA that codes for a protein
Predict the
nucleotides
to fill in this
DNA chain
RNA
• 1 chain of nucleotides
• RNA bases: Adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine
• Copy the DNA code… deliver code to ribosome to
make a protein