Wonders of Molecules

Landen, bile

Steroid acid
Produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder
Orange-yellow
Aids digestion of fats and oils
Bile salt anions are hydrophilic on one side and hydrophobic on the other, letting them gather around triglycerides with the hydrophilic (negative) side facing outwards. This happens to all the fat molecules so that they won't gather into larger clumps again.
This process increases surface area, letting more digestive enzymes get at the lipids.
Helps excretion of blood byproducts

Jaden capsaicin

Chemical found in chili peppers, which gives it its "spice"
Acts as protection mechanism against mammals who find it irritating to skin, eyes, mouth
Highest concentrations found in white pith around the seeds
Often used in food to add "heat"
Fatty acid (Polar head with carbon tail)
High levels of capsaicin is used in pepper spray to act as a deterrent, causing loss of vision and difficulty breathing.

Calvin Insulin

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that lowers the blood glucose level by promoting the uptake of the glucose by the body cells

Function: maintains blood glucose levels.

Important to us: After you eat, carbohydrates break down into glucose and glucose then enters the blood stream. the pancreas will produce insulin which allows glucose to enter body cells which will give energy

Biochemical class: Biochemistry class or grouping: Protein that has two chains. One chain called A chain has 21 amino acids and the other chain has 30 amino acids. These two chains are linked together by sulfur atoms. Insulin is obtained from proinsulin which is a molecule that is a 74-amino-acid prohormone molecule

Some key properties:

White in colour
form of white crystalline powder
soluble in water
dilute solution of mineral acids

Penicillin (emma)

Penicillin is used as an antibiotic. Penicillin weakens the cell wall and causes bacteria to die. It is often used to fight bacterial infections. Penicillin is classified as a beta-lactam antibiotic, and works by inactivating the penicillin binding proteins which will weaken the cell walls causing them to break. Penicillin was the first antibiotic created and from this discovery many more antibiotics have been made.

DDT (Leah)

Also called dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, it is an organochlorine crystalline compound that is highly poisonous to many insects by causing their nervous system to fail. It contains 2 benzene rings that are connected to 5 chlorines. It is made by reacting trichloromethanal with chlorobenzene in the presence of sulfuric acid. DDT is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and hydrophobic (but it is fat soluble). Many species have become resistant to it, it can be transferred to predators, exposure to it can cause vomiting, seizures, and shakiness, and it is believed to cause cancer which is why Canada and many other countries have banned it. It is still commonly used in many developing countries. It was used during World War 2 to kill bugs and mosquitos that transmitted malaria and typhus.

Urushiol (emily)

Urushiol is a lipid present in poison ivy which causes an itchy reaction upon touch. It contains catechol groups which are a benzene ring with two OH (catechol group) which attaches to a long carbon chain (purple in the model).

It is present inside all parts of the poison ivy plant and in some other plants including poison oak, and also mangoes. This is important because it means we live in an area with these types of plants and should know what they do to us. When you touch the plant, urushiol will be released and cause an itchy reaction with your skin, including fluid filled blisters. Chemically, the atoms in urushiol become oxidized and attach to skin cells, making them appear foreign to the body. This then causes the immune system to attack the skin cells which is what causes the reaction.

Vitamin C (Rachel)

Vitamin C is an Organic Compound, a water soluble vitamin. Our bodies need Vitamin C for growing and repairing tissues. An example we can think of is how our body heals wounds, and forms scars. This is made possible by Vitamin C. Our bodies cannot produce or store Vitamin C, it is important we get it in our diet. This antioxidant is usually stored as a powder, because it oxidizes when exposed to heat, air and light.

morphine (Naomi)

-Morphine is a pain medication of the opiate family that is naturally found in a dark brown resinous poppy plant.

-Morphine binds to opioid receptors in the reward circuit of the brain, as well as parts related to pain sensations

-Acts on the CNS to decrease the feeling of pain

-When morphine is taken, dopamine (a neurotransmitter) floods the brain, inducing a euphoric feeling or high

-morphine appears to have a similar structure of a lipid that is a steroid.

Advil (Ibuprofen) -(Miriam)

Advil is a over the counter drug found in the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) class
- This Group also includes similar drugs such as aspirin and Aleve (naproxen)
The properties of Advil are...
- Appearance - colourless, crystalline solid
- Molecular Formula - C13H18O2
- Solubility - insoluble in water, soluble in most organic solvents
Advil's Function...
- Management of mild to moderate pain, fever, and inflammation, as well as menstrual cramps, dental pain, and aches due to things such as the cold or flu.
Relevance
- It is a safe and effective, as well as easy medication to take when one is feeling any type of soreness and mild pain

Melanin (violet)

Melanin is an amino acid that has a color of brown
Melanin is made in the cell called melanocytes
It is a skin pigment, and with different levels the color of you hair, skin, or eyes can be different - being in the sun could effect the amount of melanin produced.
People have 3 types of melanin:
- - Eumelanin
  - Pheomelanin
  - Neuromelanin
There are several disorders that are connected to melanin:
- - Albinism - very low melanin
  - Melasma - excessive amounts which cause brown patches on the face
  - Vitiligo - losing melanocytes

Dopamine

Gabriel H.

Class: Inotropic Agent

Properties: Melting Point - 128 C, Molar Mass - 158.18 g/mol, Solubility - 60 g/100 ml

Structure: Simplest possible Catecholamine - consists of a catechol structure with one amine group attached via an ethyl chain.

Function: Neurotransmitter - Nervous system uses it to send messages

Importance: influences how we feel, low levels of dopamine can negatively affect your mood while higher levels positively affect your motivation, memory, and awareness.

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are molecules in the body that are responsible for delivering messages between neurons. These are essential in every nervous function, voluntary and involuntary, of which the brain is entirely dependent. They serve as regulatory, inhibitory and reflexive chemicals. Neurotransmitters are designed to be able to pass complex electric messages at high capacities.

Molecular Weight of Acetylcholine:

146.21g/mol

Molecular Formula of Acetylcholine:

C₇H₁₆NO₂

Morphine

Lipid with a similar structure to steroids

3 carbon rings

Painkiller derived from opium poppy

Used as a prescription painkiller

Prone to addiction and abuse

Serotonin

A Monoamine Neurotransmitter
- Neurotransmitters + neuromodulators that contain an amino acid group connected to an aromatic ring via a two carbon chain. Another example would would be dopamine.
- Serotonin (5-HT) receptors are classified into three groups: (5-HT1,) (5-HT2) and (5-HT3)
Key Class Properties
- Multifaceted: modulates mood, cognition, reward, learning, memory, even physiological processes such as vomiting. Serotonin plays a very significant role in the human body!

Location
- Primarily (90%) found in the ENS and the CNS, specifically the raphe nuclei (~1.5%), along with the taste receptors found on the tongue, and blood platelets (8%).

Ava v.

Urushiol

Class: lipid

Soluble
Boiling point of 200°C
318.49 g/mol
Oily, pale yellow in its pure form
Consists of multiple closely related organic compounds, and each have a catechol (C₆H₄[OH]₂) with a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon chain that has either 15 or 17 carbon atoms in the 3 position.
- Urushiol in poison oak usually has catechols with C₁₇ sidechains
- Urushiol in poison ivy and poison sumac is largely made of catechols with C₁₅ sidechains

Urushiol is mostly found in plants such as poison sumac, poison oak, the Chinese lacquer tree, and poison ivy. Coming into contact with this molecule via these plants causes red, itchy bumps in the affected areas. Sensitivity to it can be developed or it may change over time.

Its name comes from the Japanese word for lacquer tree (漆, urushi).

The leaves of poison ivy can be used to make treatments for pain and arthritis, among other health problems. However, the side effects include irritated skin and allergic reactions due to the stimulation of the immune system.

Snake Venom

Snake venom consists of neurotoxins, hemotoxins, cardiotoxins, cytotoxins, and myotoxins, including alpha-neurotoxins and three-finger toxins.
They are a complex mixture of enzymes and proteins of various sizes, amines, lipids, nucleosides, and carbohydrates.
Venom is dangerous for humans. It can affect the digestion of cells and cell membranes, disrupt blood activity, production of oxidizing agents, breakdown of collagen between cells, and it can disrupt nerve tissue.
The toxins in snake venom are harmful but can also be used as medicine. Since it affects blood pressure and blood clotting, scientists can use it to develop new drugs to treat illnesses.

This is one of the toxins in snake venom:

Nicotine

Class: lipid family

- Alkaloid specifically
- Liquid alkaloid
Obtained form dried leaves and stems of the nicotiana tobacum plant and nicotiana rustia
Molecular weight: 162.26
Water soluble
Store at room temperature and keep away from light and air
8.86 pKa (acid strength)
Polar molecule
- The lone pairs also enable the N atoms to form hydrogen bonds with polar parotic solvents
Stimulant drug that speeds up the message traveling between the brain and the body
Important because it is proven to increase speed and memory
Also proven to increase beta-endorphins and reduces anxiety

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