Chapter 1
•
Properties of living systems:
o
are complicated and highly organized
o
biological structures serve functional purposes
o
living systems are actively engaged in energy transformations (esp. via
biomolecules)
o
can self-replicate
o
not at equilibrium
o
in a steady state by virtue of energy flow
•
Biomolecules are mainly composed of H, O, C, and N because
o
they form the strongest covalent bonds
o
Carbon
all biomolecules contain carbon
can form covalent bonds with itself
has tetrahedral structure
•
Metabolites
Building Blocks
Macromolecules
Supramolecular
Complexes (structure maintained by non-covalent forces)
Organelles
o
organelles only in eukaryotic cells (know general functions)
o
membranes are supramolecular assemblies that form b/c of
hydrophobic interactions
•
Biomolecular Properties
o
Structural Polarity
o
Informational
o
Weak forces maintain biological structure and determine biomolecular
interactions
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- Fall '08
- Zhang/Spiro
- Biochemistry, 0.7 deg, 1.3 deg, Biomolecular Properties, strongest covalent bonds
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