Metabolism

2.1 Molecules to Metabolism

Introduction

What are YOU made of?

• All living things are made of organic macromolecules

• "Organic" = contains carbon and builds living things

• "Macro-" = large

• "molecule" = collection of atoms

Multiple Choice

Organic molecules all contain carbon. What's so special about carbon?

• It's water-soluble

• It can form chemical bonds with up to 4 different atoms

• It's abundant on Earth

• It's polar

We will learn how to recognize and draw different organic macromolecules. For now, let's see if you can guess what they do for your body!

Multiple Choice

Which organic compound functions MAINLY to provide short-term energy storage for your body?

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins (Polypeptides)

• Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

Sugars and starch are examples of carbohydrates found in food.

Multiple Choice

Which organic compound provides long-term energy storage for your body?

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins (Polypeptides)

• Nucleic Acids

Lipids

Fats, oils, and waxes are all examples of lipids.

Multiple Choice

Which organic compound stores and communicates information in your cells?

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Proteins (Polypeptides)

• Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids

DNA and RNA molecules encode the information needed to build and maintain your body.

Multiple Choice

Last but not least... which of the following is NOT a main function of proteins in your body?

• Structural support

• Membrane transport

• Signalling

• Energy

Proteins

Proteins (polypeptides) are made from building blocks called amino acids. There are 22 types of amino acids! Eating a wide variety of foods is important to make sure your body is getting all essential amino acids.

The Many Forms of Macromolecules

• Monomer = a single building block or subunit

• Dimer = 2 building blocks (subunits) linked

• Polymer = many building blocks (subunits) linked

Multiple Choice

"-saccharide" is a suffix that means "sugar." Which image below shows a monosaccharide?

Multiple Choice

Which image below shows a polysaccharide?

Metabolism

• The web of all enzyme-catalyzed reactions in a cell or organism.

• Metabolic reactions help macromolecules change between their monomer, dimer, and polymer forms

Metabolism = Anabolism + Catabolism

• Anabolic reactions add simple molecules together to make complex molecules

• Anabolism relies on condensation reactions

Metabolism = Anabolism + Catabolism

• Catabolic reactions break complex molecules apart to make simple molecules

• Catabolism relies on hydrolysis reactions

Multiple Select

Digesting starch (a polysaccharide) into maltose (a disaccharide) subunits would be described as... (check all that apply)

• Anabolism

• Catabolism

• Condensation

• Hydrolysis

Multiple Select

Assembling proteins from amino acids (monomers) would be described as... (check all that apply)

• Anabolism

• Catabolism

• Condensation

• Hydrolysis