Sediment and interstitial water from Sites 651 and 653 (ODP Leg 107) were investigated by organic geochemical methods to characterize labile organic compound classes (amino compounds and carbohydrates) and to evaluate their progressive diagenetic and thermal degradation in deep-sea sediments. Downhole distribution of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) appears related to redox zones associated with bacterial activity and of diagenetic recrystallization of biogenic tests and not so much to organic matter concentrations in ambi ent sediments. DOC ranges from 250 to 8300 punol/L (3-100.1 ppm). Amino acids contribute 10%-0.3% of DOC; car bohydrates range from 78 to 5 jumol/L. Rate of degradation of amino acids by thermal effects and/or bacterial activity at both sites (significantly different in sedimentation rates: average 41 cm/1000 yr in the top 300 m at Site 651, average 3.9 cm/1000 yr in the Pliocene/Qua ternary sequence at Site 653 to 220 mbsf) is more dependent on exposure time rather than on the depth within the sedi ment column. Variability in neutral, acidic, and basic amino acid fractions of total amino acids (with a range of 1.1-0.02 /xmol/g sediment; up to 2.5% of organic carbon) varies with carbonate content and by differences in thermal sta bility of amino acids. Distribution patterns of monosaccharides are interpreted to result from differences in organic matter sources, sedi mentation rates, and the degree of organic matter decomposition prior to and subsequent to burial. Total particulate carbohydrates range from 1.82 to 0.21 /miol/g sediment and contribute about 8% to the sedimentary organic matter. Investigation of trace metals in the interstitial waters did not show any correlation of either DOC, amino compounds, or carbohydrates.