Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Glucose
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
CH 2 OH
Phenol
O
Ribose
CH 2 OH
OH
O
CH 3
H 3 C N +
(Choline)
CH 3
Lecithin
(phospholipid)
CH 2
CH 2
O
(Oleate)
O
O
C
P
O
O
O
(Palmitate)
(Glyceryl)
O -
(Phosphate)
CH 2
O
Steroid
N
N
Mg 2+
O
N
N
Hopanoid
O
Chlorophyll
O
Alkenone C 37:2
Figure 8.4
The structure of some important components of biological material and biomarkers.
environments, and (eu)bacteria. We will start this chemical tour by reviewing the main
constituents of organic matter ( Fig. 8.4 ) :
1. Carbohydrates ('sugars') derive their name from their generic formula C n (H 2 O) n .The
common and simple sugar glucose C 6 H 12 O 6 is a monosaccharide whose ring structural
form leads to polysaccharides via condensation reactions. The commonest of these latter
is cellulose, a ubiquitous component of cell walls, notably in plants but also in chitin
used by arthropods and insects as shell material. Carbohydrates are the primary reserve
of energy and are used to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
2. Amino acids are organic (carboxylic) acids in which one carbon is attached to an amino
NH 2 group. They contain most of the nitrogen present in organic matter. Polymerization
of amino acids via their NH 2 group produces proteins. Enzymes are proteins with a
catalytic function, i.e. molecules which reversibly provide the little increment of energy
that helps a particular reaction go over the activation energy barrier.
 
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search