MOLECULES OF LIFE

Fun with Macromolecules

BIOCHEMISTRY TERMS

Organic Compounds – Carbon containing compounds produced by living organisms.

Macromolecule – when smaller molecules join together to form a larger more complex molecule.

IMPORTANT MACROMOLECULES

There are four types of macromolecules that make up all living organisms:

1. Carbohydrates

2. Lipids

3. Proteins

4. Nucleic Acids

ELEMENTS FOUND IN THE FOUR MACROMOLECULES: Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus

FOUND IN ALL!

Carbohydrates

1) CARBOHYDRATES Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

CHO Arrangement:

ratio of one carbon, two hydrogen, and one oxygen.

Form a RING or chains of RINGS Subunits: Monosaccharides Function:

Quick energy…their bonds store a lot of energy!

Structural support (plants)

I) SIMPLE

Simple = Monosaccharides (C6H12O6) Glucose from plants Fructose from fruits Galactose from milk

Glucose Fructose

Monomer-simplest unit

II) COMPLEXComplex = Disaccharides (C12H24O12) -- two

Sucrose = glucose & fructose (table sugar)

Lactose = glucose & galactose

Sucrose Lactose

Polymer-larger units made of monomers

III) VERY COMPLEXVery Complex=Polysaccharides(CxHyOx) --

many Starch - food storage, plants Cellulose – plant support Glycogen – energy storage, animals

Cellulose

Polymer-larger units made of monomers

2) LIPIDS

Elements carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen

atoms

CHOArranged in CHAINS

Subunits: glycerol and fatty acids (and sometimes phosphate)

Function: Better for storing energy-more bonds than

carbohydrates.

LIPID TYPES Fats = energy storage Steroids = hormones & cholesterol Waxes = protective coatings (ear wax

and cuticle of plant leaves) Phospholipids = cell membrane

3) PROTEINSElements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and

nitrogen

CHON Arrangement: multiple folds Subunits: aminoacids

Functions: Structural proteins-

Fibrous proteins…building blocks of cells

Globular proteins-Enzymes – aids chemical reactionsMessenger and transport proteins

(cell membrane)

There are 20 different types of amino acids and they can form new proteins based upon their order and the number of them present in a protein chain.

Generalized Amino Acid

NUCLEIC ACIDS

4) NUCLEIC ACIDSDNA AND RNA

Elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,

and phosphorus.

CHONP Subunits: nucleotides Function:

Control genetic or heredity information

I) TYPES OF NUCLEIC ACIDS There are two types of nucleic acids:

a) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) directs all cell activities and codes for genes

b) RNA (ribonucleic acid) directs protein creation and transfers

information

HOW THEY ARE MADE: Monomers form polymers using a

process known as dehydration synthesis (removes a water molecule).

Polymers are broken down using a process known as hydrolysis (“breaks” or lyses a water molecule and “adds” it).

http://nhscience.lonestar.edu/biol/dehydrat/dehydrat.html

ANY QUESTIONS?