The Big Four Macromolecules

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the structure, functions, monomers, and examples of the four major organic macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins).

The Big Four Macromolecules

4 types of organic molecules
(Required in large amounts by all living organisms)

*Carbohydrates

*Lipids

*Nucleic acids

*Proteins

Organic Compound

Any chemical compound that contains carbon.

Macromolecule

A large organic molecule needed by living organisms; also known as a polymer.

Monomer

A single molecule that serves as a smaller "building block" to connect together and create polymers.

Note: “Mono” - means one

Polymer

A large molecule composed of many connected smaller molecular units (monomers).

NOTE: Poly means “many”

Carbon

An accessible element found in the air as $CO_2$ that can bond with 4 other atoms to store energy and easily form rings.

Carbohydrates

Organic macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that function in short-term energy storage.

Monosaccharide

A carbohydrate monomer consisting of a single sugar unit; examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two sugar units; examples include sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of many sugar units that must be broken down into glucose to be used; examples include starches and cellulose.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide found in lettuce, corn, and seeds that is not digested or used by humans.

Lipids

Organic macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes phosphorus that are insoluble in water and provide long-term energy storage, insulation, and shock absorption.

Fatty Acids

The monomer building blocks of lipids.

Phospholipid

A lipid with a hydrophilic head attracted to water and hydrophobic tails repelled by water, which forms cell membranes to keep the proper balance of water inside and outside the cell.

Glycerol

A three-carbon molecule that joins with three fatty acids to construct a triglyceride.

Triglycerides

Lipid molecules composed of one glycerol molecule joined to three fatty acids.

Nucleic Acids

Organic macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus whose primary function is to store genetic information.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of three components: a phosphate group, a pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Proteins

Organic macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur that build cellular structures and carry out essential life functions.

Amino Acids

The monomer building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon, an amine group, a carboxyl acid group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group / side chain; over 20 different types exist.

Structural Proteins

A category of proteins that function to grow and repair body cells, muscles, skin, and hair; dysfunction leads to delayed or abnormal growth or healing.

Active Proteins

A functional category of proteins including enzymes, hormones, and antibodies; dysfunction results in body and organ malfunctions as well as immune deficiencies.

Enzymes

Organic or biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by breaking molecules apart or putting molecules together.

Hormones

Chemical messenger proteins that signal and direct other parts of the body regarding what to do and when.

Antibodies

Proteins that fight infections by finding and destroying bacteria and viruses that enter the body.

Protein Channels and Pumps

Passive and active protein tunnels or pumps located in the cell membrane that transport chemicals and nutrients into and out of a cell.