Biological Macromolecules

About Macromolecules

• Macro = big• Polymer = another word for macromolecule• Monomer = small molecules that make up

polymers (subunit)

Polymer =monomer – monomer – monomer - monomer

Lipids

• Examples: fats and oils • Subunit: fatty acids• Functions: – energy storage– insulation– waxy coatings– cell membranes

Lipids (cont.)

• Structure – long carbon chain with many hydrogen atoms

Lipids (cont.)

• Other info: – Can be saturated or unsaturated– Not soluble in water (“hydrophobic”)

• Test: Brown paper bag test

Proteins

• Subunit: amino acids• Functions:– Cell and tissue structure (ex. muscle)– Chemical reactions in body

• SHAPE determines FUNCTION!Examples: • Insulin – lowers blood sugar (highnormal)• Glucagon – raises blood sugar (lownormal)• Hemoglobin – carries oxygen in blood to cells

Proteins (cont.)

• Structure:– Chains of amino acids joined by PEPTIDE BONDS– Chains fold into specific shapes

Proteins (cont.)

• Test: Biuret solution

Carbohydrates

• Subunit = sugars• Function (what it is used for)= ENERGY

• Types:– Monosaccharides – “one sugar” – ex. glucose– Disaccharides – “two sugars” – ex. sucrose– Polysaccharides – “many sugars” – ex. starch

Carbohydrates (cont.)

• Structure – rings or chains of rings

glucose sucrose

starch

Carbohydrates (cont.)

• Tests:– Benedict’s solution for monosaccharides

– Iodine for starch

Nucleic Acids

• Subunit: nucleotide• Function: storing and transferring genetic

information• Examples:– DNA– RNA

Nucleic Acids (cont.)

• Structure: one or two strands of nucleotides

Nucleotide DNA