BIO 1140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Glycosidic Bond, Carboxylic Acid, Amine
26 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Because of carbon"s unique bonding properties (4 unpaired electrons), it can assemble into a large variety of chain and ring structures that form the backbones of all biological molecules. These important macromolecules in cell biology include sugars, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and protein. These reactions occur as a part of the assembly of a larger molecule from smaller sub-units or the breakdown of larger molecules into small sub-units, respectively. Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids are synthesized and degraded in living organ- isms through interactions between the small, reactive functional groups. These functional groups occur in positions where their covalent bonds are more readily broken/rearranged than the bonds in other parts of the molecule. Hydroxyl group (-oh): polar, form linkages through dehydration synthesis reactions, alcohol. Carbonyl group (c=o): reactive part of aldehydes/ketones that take part in reactions supplying energy for cellular activities.
