Biological Macromolecules

Monomers = single unit of chemical
compounds that can undergo
polymerization
Polymer = many units bound together
All biological macromolecules follow the
same basic pattern:
monomer + monomer + monomer +
monomer + monomer + monomer
Chemical reactions in
which two or more
molecules combine to
form larger molecules.

Dehydration Synthesis
Hydrolysis
builds
breaks
Process of removing
Hydrogen and oxygen
from a chemical
compound producing
water.
Combining of two
elements to form a
new substance
Process of
decomposition involving
the splitting of a bond
and addition of H cation
and the H anion of
water

MACROMOLECULES important to life
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids
What about the carbon molecule does it
make an ideal molecule for life forms?

1. CARBOHYDRATES
-monosaccharides - simple
ring sugars, glucose and
fructose
-disaccharides - two
monosaccharides combined,
sucrose and lactose
-polysaccharides - polymers
(repeating units) of
monosaccharides

Polysaccharides store energy:
● starch (plants)
● glycogen (animals)

Polysaccharides are also structural molecules
cellulose - makes up cell walls (plants)
chitin - makes up exoskeletons

What you need to know about carbohydrates
1. Distinguish between monosaccharides, disaccharides
and polysaccharides. (Give examples of each)
2. Understand how carbohydrates are used in plants and
animals as energy storage molecules.
3. Understand how carbohydrates are used in plants and
animals as structural molecules.

2. Lipids
Hydrophobic (insoluble in water)
Used for insulation and long term energy storage (fat)*
Fats & Oils are made of subunits – glycerol and fatty acids
Waxes – mainly used for covering and protection

Phospholipids -
Important structural component of the cell membrane

Steroids - cholesterol & sex hormones (estrogen & testosterone)
– made of 4 fused rings

Cholesterol
- a lipid molecule
- essential component of cell membranes
- maintains membrane integrity and fluidity.
Cholesterol enables animal cells to
(a) not need a cell wall
(b) be able change shape
(c) move freely

Saturated fats contain no double bonds, solid at room temperature;
Unsaturated have double bonds that “kink” the molecule, liquid at room
temperature

What you need to know about lipids
1. Compare saturated to unsaturated fats.
2. List the functions of lipids
3. Identify a steroid from a picture (4 rings)
4. Identify the main component of the cell membrane.

3. Proteins
Polymers made of amino acids,
which are joined by peptide
bonds - proteins are also called
polypeptides
Amino acids form a wide variety of
structures, mainly building blocks for
living tissue
Examples: Lactase (enzyme),
Hemoglobin, Insulin, Keratin,
Myoglobin (muscles)

Also used for:
Support | Enzymes |
Transport | Defense |
Hormones | Motion
Functions of Proteins
Spike proteins on the surface
of the coronavirus

Proteins can be denatured, heat causes it to lose its shape,
and its functionality
There are 20 known amino acids

Proteins have four shapes
Primary | Secondary | Tertiary | Quaternary

Nucleic Acids
- storage of genetic information in cell.
- Information storing molecules
- Repeating nucleotides
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) & RNA (ribonucleic acid)
Each nucleotide consists of:
1. A sugar (deoxyribose or ribose)
2. A phosphate
3. A nitrogen base
- adenine - uracil (in RNA)
- thymine
- guanine
- cytosine

Thank
you
Prepared by:
MARGIE B. ALMOZA

MATCHING
a. carbohydrate b. lipids
c. protein d. nucleic acids
1. contains adenine and thymine
2. lactose
3. chains of amino acids
4. long term energy storage
5. cholesterol
6. chains of fatty acids and glycerol
7. plant cell walls