Biomolecules: Solution to Important Topics

Introduction

• Biomolecules is an important chapter in Class 11.
• The chapter can be confusing, but with proper study, it will become easier.
• It will cover chemicals in biological systems.
• This subject is crucial, so it shouldn't be skipped.
• This chapter is also useful for Class 12 and medical entrance exams.

Understanding the Chapter

• To understand the chapter properly, a balance between concepts and structure is essential.
• Even talented students get confused because they don't know how much to memorize and how much to skip.
• It will be easier to study the chapter by dividing it into three packets: Amino Acids, Proteins, and Carbohydrates/Nucleic Acids/Lipids.

Basics of Biomolecules

• Biomolecules: Chemicals present in biological systems.
• When analyzing living tissue, chemical elements are found.
• The chemicals in living tissue and the Earth's crust might be the same, but their relative amount and compounds differ.

Composition of Calcium

• The Earth's crust's composition has the most oxygen, then silicon, followed by aluminum.
• The human body has the most oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen.

Analysis of Living Tissue

• Living tissue is mixed with acid (like trichloroacetic acid) for analysis.
• This process creates two parts: acid insoluble and acid soluble.
• Acid soluble: Small entities like amino acids, nucleotides, etc.
• Acid insoluble: Large molecules like proteins, polysaccharides, fats, etc.

Metabolites

Primary Metabolites

• Necessary for vital physiological functions.
• Common and do not vary significantly among different species.

Secondary Metabolites

• Prominent in plants, microbes, and fungi.
• Protective and ecological importance.
• Includes toxins, drugs, pigments, etc.

Amino Acids

• Substituted methanes.
• Optically active.
• Levorotatory and dextrorotatory (mostly levorotatory).
• Can form neutral ions in water.

Key Properties

• Amino acids are optically active.
• Ways to recognize essential and non-essential amino acids.

Proteins

• Made of polypeptide chains, which fold to become functional.

Key Properties

• Homopolymers and heteropolymers.
• Architectural types: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary.
• Based on role: Fibrous and Globular.

Protein Functions

• Antibodies, immune system, blood clotting, etc.

Enzymes

Key Properties

• Water-soluble in humans.
• Optimal temperature and pH values.

Mechanism

• Reaches the enzyme's active site via simple diffusion of the substrate.
• Active site's determinant function.
• Reduces the energy barrier of the transition stage.
• Promotes product formation.

Inhibitors

• Differences between competitive and non-competitive inhibitors.
• Feedback inhibition.

Chemical Classification

• Oxidoreductases, Transferases, Hydrolases, Lyases, Isomerases, Ligases.

Co-factors

• Essential for the working of enzymes.
• Inorganic and organic types.
• Prosthetic groups and coenzymes.