Molecular Biology in Humans

April 6th, 1:45 PM

Amino Acids

- The building blocks of proteins

- Contain an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a variety of functional groups (R)

The Functional Groups

Non-polar

Methyl (R-CH3) deals with lipid bilayers and protein folding

Phenyl (R-hexagon) absorbs UV light and deal with protein folding

Polar

Hydroxyl (R-CH2-OH) can hydrogen bond

Sulfhydryl (R-CH2-SH) deals with the formation of tertiary structure

Carbonyl (R-C=O) stabilizes secondary structure

\CH3

Polar charged /H

Amino (R-N-H) accepts protons from solution

Carboxyl (R-C=O) exists in un-protonated form

\O-

/O-

Phosphate (R-O-P=O) is one of the main energy carriers in the cell

\O-

Nucleic Acids

- Organic, replicating macromolecules

- The most important are DNA and RNA

- Made of sequences of four bases

1. Adenine

2. Cytosine

3. Guanine

4. Thymine (Uracil in RNA)

- Fundamental unit is the nucleotide

- Linked by phosphodiester covalent bonds

Lipids

- Includes fats and waxes

- Forms the membranes of cells and organelles

- Involved in energy storage and cell signaling

- Accumulate in adipose cells (fat cells) in the body

After learning about each of the organic macromolecule categories, I moved on to Unit 6: THE CELL. The cell is the basic structural unit of living things. According to cell theory, all known living things are made up of one or more cells. All new cells are created by pre-existing cells dividing in two. The cell is the most basic unit of structure and function in all living organisms. Each cell consists of three components:

1. A cell membrane that surrounds and protects the cell

2. The cytoplasm, containing ions, proteins, and organelles

3. Organelles that carry out all activities necessary for the cell to live, grow, and reproduce

Organelles

Ribosomes- Help synthesize proteins needed by the cell

Rough endoplasmic reticulum- Transports proteins to the golgi apparatus

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum- Involved in lipid synthesis and the breakdown of toxins

Golgi apparatus- Distributes proteins to vesicles

Vesicle- Transports proteins throughout the cell

Lysosome- Takes in cell waste and destroys it using hydrolytic enzymes

Mitochondria- Generates energy for the cell in the form of ATP

Nucleus- Controls the function of the cell; contains DNA

Nucleolus- Produces ribosomes

The drawing above depicts the phospholipid bilayer, the semi-permeable fabric of the cell membrane. It is integral for transporting nutrients in and out of the cell.

End: 2:45 PM

#chemistry #anatomy #capacitybuilding #seniorproject #physiology #molecularbiology #cells