cells are made up of how much water
75%
4 properties of water
-effeicent solvent due to polarity (water is polar)
-cohesive and adheisve
-desner as a luqid expands upon freezing
abilty to moderate temp by abosribing energy
one molecule of water has how mnay polar covalnet bonds
2
elctrons are pulled towards oxygen bc of eletronagtivty
how do hydrogen bonds form
between water molecules
1st law of therodynamics
energy is neither created nor detsoryed it just changes form
ex: When you eat food, the chemical energy in the food changes into kinetic energy (movement) and thermal energy (heat) in your body.
2nd law of therodymacs
-entropy ( disorder in a group of molecules) always increases this is spotanous
-But the natural tendency is disorder, so cells are constantly using energy to maintain order.
-energy is needed to work assaint entropoy
entropy = messiness, and energy = the effort needed to keep things in order.
Monomers
Definition: Small, single building blocks (one unit).
Example:
Glucose (sugar) → monomer for carbohydrates
Amino acids → monomers for proteins
Nucleotides → monomers for nucleic acids (DNA/RNA)
Analogy: Like a single LEGO brick.
Monomer = 1 piece
Polymers
Definition: Large molecules made by linking many monomers together.
Example:
Starch (carbohydrate) → made of many glucose molecules
Proteins → made of many amino acids
DNA → made of many nucleotides
Analogy: A LEGO castle made by connecting many bricks.
Polymer = many pieces linked together
why does polymerization defiy 2nd law of therodyamncs
Polymerization defies spontaneity
When monomers form polymers in cells:
-The reaction does not happen by itself.
-Cells must use energy (ATP) to drive the process.
Local order increases (monomers → polymer), which might look like entropy is decreasing.
-But because energy is used, the overall entropy of the surroundings increases (heat, byproducts).
-The Second Law is about the total entropy of the universe, not just the local system.
-Making a LEGO castle from loose bricks doesn’t happen on its own—you have to spend energy to build it.
-The “messiness” in your room (heat, scattered bricks you drop) actually increases overall disorder.
Polymerization
Definition: The chemical process of joining monomers together to make a polymer.
What happens:
Individual monomers (small molecules) connect through chemical bonds. ( need energy for this)
This forms a long chain or network called a polymer.
Analogy
Think of LEGO bricks: each brick is a monomer. Polymerization is like clicking the bricks together to build a long chain or structure (the polymer).
Dehydration Synthesis
-a specific type of polymerization
Definition: A chemical reaction where monomers are joined to form a polymer.
How it works:
-Two monomers come together.
-A molecule of water (H₂O) is removed—this is the “condensation” part.
Key points:
-This reaction is not spontaneous—it requires energy.
-Cells usually get this energy from ATP or other high-energy molecules.
-It’s like snapping two LEGO bricks together, but you have to take out a small connector piece (water) and use effort/energy to make the connection.
Hydrolysis
Definition: A chemical reaction that breaks a polymer into monomers.
How it works:
-A water molecule (H₂O) is added.
-The polymer chain is split, and the monomers are released.
Key points:
-This reaction is often spontaneous—it can happen without extra energy.
-Energy is not required (or much less than for synthesis).
-Hydrolysis = snapping apart the bricks by adding water.
is hydrolysis and dehydration synthesis type of Polymerization
Dehydration synthesis → type of polymerization (it builds polymers from monomers). ✅
Hydrolysis → breaks polymers into monomers, so it is not polymerization. ❌
what % of cells are made of proteins
50%
Methionine (MET)
Role: Usually the first amino acid in a protein during translation.
Side chain: Has a nonpolar (avoids water,found inside proteins, helping form the hydrophobic core,doesn’t usually form bonds)
Special note: Sets the start signal for protein synthesis
Cysteine (CYS)
Unique feature: The only standard amino acid with a reactive sulfur (-SH) group in its side chain.
Importance: Can form disulfide bonds (S–S) with another cysteine, which stabilizes protein structure.
Side chain type: Polar (can react chemically, strong links between parts of a protein,interact with water or other polar groups)
every polypeptide (protein chain) has two distinct ends which are:
N-terminus (Amino Terminus)
-Definition: The start of the polypeptide chain.
-Feature: Has a free amino group (-NH₂).
-Significance: This is the first amino acid (often methionine) in a newly made protein.
C-terminus (Carboxyl Terminus)
-Definition: The end of the polypeptide chain.
-Feature: Has a free carboxyl group (-COOH).
-Significance: The chain grows from the N-terminus to the C-terminus during protein synthesis.
N-terminus = engine (start)
C-terminus = caboose (end)
crucial for structure and function.
Polypeptide:
Polypeptide: Many (poly) amino acids (peptides) joined in a chain.
-The amino acids are linked by peptide bonds, which form through dehydration synthesis (water is removed when the bond forms).
4 level of protein structures
-primary
-secondary
-teriatry
-quaternary
primary protein structure
Definition: The unique sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Key points:
Sequence matters: Even a single amino acid change can affect the protein’s function.
-Peptide bonds link the amino acids together.
-Side chains (R-groups) do not interact at this level—they just dangle along the chain.
Result: A linear polypeptide with a specific order of amino acids.
Secondary Protein Structure
Definition: Local folding of a polypeptide chain due to hydrogen bonds between the backbone atoms (not side chains).
Key points:
-Hydrogen bonds form between the carbonyl oxygen (C=O) of one amino acid and the amino hydrogen (N-H) of another.
-These bonds occur along the backbone of the polypeptide, not the R-groups (side chains).
Two common shapes:
-Alpha helix (α-helix): Spiral shape stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
-Beta sheet (β-sheet): Zig-zag or pleated sheet stabilized by hydrogen bonds.
Tertiary Protein Structure and what type of reactions
Definition: The overall 3D shape of a single polypeptide chain.
What determines it: Interactions between the R-groups (side chains) of amino acids.
Types of interactions that stabilize tertiary structure:
-Hydrophobic interactions: Nonpolar side chains cluster inside the protein, away from water.
-Disulfide bonds: Strong covalent bonds between two cysteine residues (–S–S–).
-Ionic bonds (salt bridges): Between positively and negatively charged side chains.
-Hydrogen bonds: Between polar side chains.
Quaternary Protein Structure
Definition: The 3D structure formed when two or more polypeptide chains (subunits) join together to make a macromolecule
exmaple:
Hemoglobin Tetramer (4 polypeptides)
Cro protein Dimer (2 polypeptides)
The pol[eteides interact through the same types of interactions as tertiary structure:
polar
hydrphlic
pulling electrons ahrder
not evenly distraibted