* Key Topics: * Explain and give examples of why proteins are essential to cell function * The basic structure of an amino acid * Describe the 4 levels of protein structure, and give examples of each * Explain what an enzyme is, understand why enzymes are needed to help chemical reactions, and know the role of the active site * Revisiting the Theory of Chemical Evolution * Modern life arose through a series of endergonic chemical reactions. 1. Production of small organic compounds * i.e., formaldehyde (H2CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN) 2. Formation of mid-sized molecules from these small compounds * i.e., amino acids, simple sugars 3. Mid-sized building blocks combine to form large molecules. * i.e., proteins, complex carbohydrates
4. Life became possible when one of these large molecules self-replicated. * Organic Molecules * Large organic molecules are called macromolecules * Four major categories of macromolecules: 1. Proteins 2. Nucleic Acids 3. Carbohydrates 4. Lipids * Several of these are long chains of smaller subunits. * The smaller subunits are known as monomers * The long chains of monomers are known as polymers * Four groups of Macromolecules * Building Macromolecules – Monomers and Polymers * Molecules, such as amino acids, are individual units called monomers. They link together (polymerize) to form polymers, such as proteins. * Macromolecules are very large polymers made up of many monomers linked together. * Thus, proteins are macromolecules consisting of linked amino acid monomers. * Energy is required from the cells to build molecule * Assembling and Breaking Apart Polymers: Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions * Monomers polymerize to form polymers. * Polymerization reactions