Biochemistry

Macromolecules

Macromolecules

Large organic molecules found in living things.

Polymerization

The process of joining smaller compounds to form larger compounds by covalent bonds.

Polymer

A long chain of repeating units formed through polymerization.

Monomer

The building blocks of polymers.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining monomers together by removing water.

Hydrosis

The breakdown of polymers into monomers by adding water, which requires enzymes but releases energy.

Organic Macromolecules

Macromolecules that contain a C-H double bond and are found in nature.

Inorganic Compounds

Compounds that do not have a C-H bond.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules that deal with sugars and have a general formula of (CH2O)N.

Monosaccharide

The monomer of carbohydrates, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined together, such as sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Polysaccharide

Three or more monosaccharides joined together, such as cellulose, starch, chitin, and glycogen.

Proteins

Polymers of amino acids that have various functions in growth, maintenance, repair, and metabolism.

Amino Acids

The monomers of proteins, with 20 different types, 11 made by the body and 9 obtained from food.

Peptide Bond

The bond that links amino acids together in proteins through dehydration synthesis.

Protein Structure

Determined by the type, order, and length of amino acids, and categorized into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.

Denaturation

The process of changing the shape of a protein by breaking hydrogen bonds, which disrupts its tertiary structure and destroys functionality.

Lipids

Organic macromolecules that function in energy storage, protection, and insulation, with main types including triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.

Fatty Acids

The monomers of lipids, formed by dehydration synthesis, and can be saturated or unsaturated.

Phospholipids

Lipids consisting of glycerol, two fatty acid chains, and a phosphate group, forming a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head.

Steroids

Lipids with four fused carbon rings and different functional groups, such as cholesterol.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information, with nucleotides as their monomers.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, nitrogen base, and phosphate group.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a double-stranded nucleic acid that determines characteristics of an organism and directs all cell activities.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a single-stranded nucleic acid that stores and transfers information from DNA to make proteins.