MACROMOLECULESMolecules of Life

Biological Macromolecules Built mostly from C, H, & O.

Occur in different ratios in each category. 4 major macromolecules (organic compounds)

Carbohydrate Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids

Carbohydrates C,H, & O in a 1:2:1 ratio (C:H:O) Used as ENERGY SOURCES Monomer unit (building block) is the

monosaccharide aka simple sugars Examples:

Glucose – main energy source for cells, quick! Fructose – in fruits and is the sweetest Galactose – found in milk

CarbohydratesAll three are Isomers- identical chemical formulas

(C6H12O6), but different structures

Glucose FructoseGalactose

Carbohydrates Disaccharides- when two monosaccharides combine to

form a double sugar Examples:

Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose (table sugar)

Glucose + Glucose = Maltose (in barley) Glucose + Galactose = Lactose (milk sugar)

Carbohydrates Polysaccharides- complex molecule made from 3 or more

monosaccharides Animals store glucose in the liver in a form called

GlycogenAlso stored in muscles and can be used as a “quick”

energy Plants store energy in the form of Starch Cellulose – the largest and most complex carbohydrate

Lipids Made up of C,H,& O, with

a higher ratio of H. Used as ENERGY

STORAGE and MAKE UP CELL MEMBRANES

Monomer unit is the Fatty Acid

Examples Triglycerides--Fats &

Oils Phospholipids Waxes Steroids

Triglycerides: Fats & Oils Have three fatty acids joined to one molecule of glycerol

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Some carbons forms double bonds with other

carbons in chains; not bonded to max # of hydrogens

Good for you! Usually soft/liquid at room temperature

Found in plant seeds & some cold blooded animals

Saturated Fatty Acids Carbons are bonded to four atoms and so we call them

full or saturated NO double bonds

Bad for you Solid at room temperature

Found in warm blooded animals Found in food like crisco, butter, in your cheeseburgers Look for words like “Trans” & Hydrogenated on

packages

Lipids Cont. Phospholipids- form cell membrane

bilayer Only two fatty acids here

Waxes- bee and ear wax, plant cuticle Are waterproof and form protective

coatings Steroids

Sex hormones (estrogen & testosterone)

Cholesterol—needed for cell membranes but will clog your arteries

Proteins Made up of C,H,O and N Jobs are to provide STRUCTURE & SUPPORT and to

SPEED UP REACTIONS Monomer unit is the amino acid Examples:

Enzymes Keratin (hair, nails, horns) Collagen (in muscles & tendons—stretching) Antibodies (immune system) Insulin (break down sugar)

Proteins Dipeptide -2 amino acids linked by a covalent bond

called a peptide bond Polypeptides- chains of three or more amino acids

linked together (usually very long) Proteins are usually one or more polypeptides.

Nucleic Acids Made up of C,H,O,N & P STORES AND TRANSMITS GENETIC INFO Monomer unit is the Nucleotide Examples

DNA—Deoxyribonucleic acid RNA—Ribonucleic acid