ATI TEAS Basic Macromolecules in a Biological System

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules made of repeating monomers

Monomers

Small building blocks that join to form polymers

Polymers

Large molecules formed by linking many monomers together

Dehydration synthesis

Reaction that builds polymers by removing water and forming covalent bonds

Hydrolysis

Reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

Molecule that stores and provides energy for cells

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen used for energy and structure

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars that are the monomers of carbohydrates (ex: glucose)

Disaccharides

Two monosaccharides joined together (ex: sucrose)

Polysaccharides

Long chains of sugars used for energy storage or structure

Glucose

A common monosaccharide used as a primary energy source

Glycogen

Storage form of glucose in animals (liver and muscles)

Starch

Storage form of carbohydrates in plants

Cellulose

Structural carbohydrate found in plant cell walls

Carbohydrate function

Provide quick energy and structural support

Lipids

Hydrophobic macromolecules used for energy storage, insulation, and cell membranes

Fatty acids

Long hydrocarbon chains that make up lipids

Glycerol

Molecule that forms the backbone of fats

Triglycerides

Lipids made of glycerol and three fatty acids

Phospholipids

Lipids that form cell membranes with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails

Steroids

Lipids with four-ring structures used as hormones (ex: cholesterol)

Lipid function

Long-term energy storage, insulation, and membrane structure

Hydrophobic

Substance that repels water

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids that perform many cellular functions

Amino acids

Monomers of proteins with a central carbon, amine group, carboxyl group, and side chain

Peptide bond

Bond that links amino acids together

Protein structure

Determined by sequence of amino acids

Fibrous proteins

Structural proteins that are not water-soluble (ex: keratin, collagen)

Globular proteins

Functional proteins that are water-soluble (ex: enzymes, hemoglobin)

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy

Active site

Region of enzyme where substrate binds

Substrate

Molecule that an enzyme acts upon

Protein function

Structure, transport, signaling, and catalysis

Nucleic acids

Macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids made of sugar, phosphate, and nitrogen base

DNA

Double-stranded nucleic acid that stores genetic information

RNA

Single-stranded nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis

Nitrogen bases (DNA)

Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine

Nitrogen bases (RNA)

Adenine, uracil, guanine, cytosine

Genetic code

Sequence of nucleotides that determines protein structure

Nucleic acid function

Store genetic information and direct protein synthesis

Macromolecule synthesis

Built by dehydration reactions and broken down by hydrolysis

Structure-function relationship

The shape and structure of macromolecules determine their function