Individual molecules affiliated with each of these groups
Carbon-oxygen groups
These functional groups are so ubiquitous that they are responsible for almost all biochemical reactions.
- Alcohols
- Aldehydes
- Ketones
- Carboxylic Acids
- Ethers
- Acid Anhydrides
Carbon-Oxygen
common functional groups in biochemistry
These functional groups define common molecules, compounds, and reactions in biochemistry, including biochemical polymers such as proteins, DNA and carbohydrates.
FOUR GROUPS
- Carbon-oxygen groups
- Carbon-nitrogen groups
- Carbon-sulfur groups
- Esters & Amides
Carbon-oxygen groups
Alcohols
- The alcohol functional group is the simplest of the carbon-oxygen functional groups.
- "R" represents carbon chains attached to the functional group. We connect an R to an OH.
Alcohol groups are found on sugars and take part in both ring-forming reactions and the condensation reactions that create biological polymers such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids.
Aldehydes
- We draw a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen and single bonded to a hydrogen. And we add an R as the fourth bond on this carbon atom.
Aldehyde groups are commonly found on monosaccharides and because they are highly reactive, participate in their ring-forming reactions. Many fragrances are aldehydes, as such they are found in many essential oils and other scents.
Ketones
- We draw a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to R groups on either side.
-Ketone groups are also found on simple sugars and participate in their ring-forming reaction because they are reactive.
-As a clinical correlate, ketosis occurs when ketone bodies are present in the blood, and may be caused by fasting, hypoglycemia, congenital disorders of metabolism, or a ketogenic diet like the Atkins diet. Ketoacidosis is an extreme version of ketosis and may be toxic because it lowers the pH of the blood significantly.
Carboxylic acids
- We draw a carbon double-bonded to an oxygen and single bonded to an OH group. R is the fourth bond on the carbon atom.
Carboxylic acids are an important part of amino acid structure and participate in the formation of peptide bonds, which create primary protein structure, the most basic protein structure.
Ethers
- We draw an R connected to an oxygen atom, which is connected to another R group, for the general formula R-O-R.
Ether bonds connect sugars to each other to form more complex carbohydrates such as starch, glycogen and cellulose, all of which are complex energy stores for the body.
Acid anhydride
- We draw a carbon, double-bonded to an oxygen and single bonded to another oxygen atom.
- To the single-bonded oxygen atom, we add another carbon double-bonded to an oxygen.
- We add R groups on either side so that each carbon has four bonds.
Acid anhydrides are quite reactive. Notable acid anhydrides include ATP, the energy currency of the cell ands 1,3 bisphosphoglycerate, an intermediate formed in glycolysis, which is commonly known for its role in energy release but also has significant roles in numerous other biochemical processes.