Biological Molecules (Continued)
Proteins:
What are they?
Chains of Amino Acids (subunits) – 20 different amino acids
Most abundant biomolecule in living things!!!!!
- hair and nails (claws) – Keratin
- Muscle – Actin and Myosin
- Connective tissue – Collogen
- ENZYMES! –for chemical reactions (ex. Lactase)
What is in them?
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Sulfur
Why are they Important?
Structure of organisms – muscle, baleen, skin, scales
ENZYMES – help speed up and start chemical reactions (make and break)
Hormones
Carrier Proteins – Hemoglobin in blood carries oxygen
LOTS OF JOBS IN LIVING THINGS!!!!!!!!
What do they look like?
Primary Structure – up to 300 amino acids long
(combos of 20 amino acids)
- straight chains
Secondary Structure – chain starts to twist and bend (alpha helix or beta sheet)
Tertiary Structure – fold and twist more (ball-like or cord-like shapes)
Quaternary Structure – two or more proteins fit together
Nucleic Acids
What are they?
DNA – deoxyribonucleic acids
RNA – ribonucleic acids
What’s in them?
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Nitrogen
Why are they important?
DNA – hold the genetic code (for all of the proteins and the controls for an organism)
RNA – Makes proteins (using the DNA code)
What do they look like?
Chains of Nucleotide (Subunits) – each has a base, sugar, and phosphate
DNA – has Thymine, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine
- Double chain (double helix)
RNA – has Uracil, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine