Dry weight of a human body consists of:
1. Carbon (C) 60%
2. Nitrogen (N) 11%
3. Oxygen (O) 9%
4. Hydrogen (H) 6%
Bulk elements: Na, K, Cl, S, Ca, P
Trace Elements: Fe, Co, Cu, Zn
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations
...
Dry weight of a human body consists of:
1. Carbon (C) 60%
2. Nitrogen (N) 11%
3. Oxygen (O) 9%
4. Hydrogen (H) 6%
Bulk elements: Na, K, Cl, S, Ca, P
Trace Elements: Fe, Co, Cu, Zn
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 3
of Biochemistry
Carbon
• central to nearly all compounds in the world
• >90% of the known 13 million compounds are carbon containing
(organic)
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 4
of Biochemistry
Why? Carbon is very versatile
Carbon
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 5
of Biochemistry
• 4 unpaired electrons - can share them with 4 different
partners
• can form single bonds with hydrogen
• can form single and double bonds with oxygen and
nitrogen
Carbon
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 6
of Biochemistry
Greatest significance: carbon - carbon bonds
Single carbon-carbon bonds
(e.g. in amino acids)
Double and triple carbon-carbon bonds (e.g. in fatty
acids):
• shorter bond length
• rigid, no rotation possible
Carbon
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 7
of Biochemistry
Organic compounds:
Molecules with covalently bonded carbon backbones (linear, branched or cyclic)
Functional Groups:
Groups of other atoms that are linked to carbon backbone (determine physical and
chemical properties)
Functional Groups Involving Oxygen
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 8
of Biochemistry
Functional Groups Involving Hydrogen
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 9
of Biochemistry
Functional Groups Involving Nitrogen
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 10
of Biochemistry
(e.g. His)
(e.g. Arg)
Functional Groups Involving Sulfur
MCDB310 – Chapter 1: Foundations 11
of Biochemistry
Functional Groups Involving Phosphorus
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