2._Organic_Macromolc_RevdF14-1-1-1

Organic Macromolecules

Large organic compounds that consist mainly of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, and ATP.

Monomer

The subunit that joins together to form polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule formed by the combination of many monomers.

Dehydration Reaction

A chemical reaction that removes a water molecule to form a new bond.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that adds a water molecule to break a bond.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a major energy source.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars that serve as the building blocks of carbohydrates.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.

Glycogen

A storage form of glucose in animals, primarily found in the liver and muscle.

Starch

A storage form of glucose in plants.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide that serves as a structural component in plant cell walls.

Lipids

A group of organic compounds that are hydrophobic and include fats, phospholipids, and steroids.

Triglycerides

Lipids composed of a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid tails.

Phospholipids

Molecules containing a phosphate group and two fatty acids, crucial for forming cell membranes.

Eicosanoids

Signaling molecules derived from fatty acids that are involved in inflammatory responses.

Steroids

Lipid molecules characterized by a structure of four fused carbon rings.

Proteins

Large biomolecules made up of amino acids that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins, consisting of a central carbon atom, amino group, carboxyl group, and a variable side chain.

Peptide Bond

The bond formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another.

Primary Structure of Proteins

The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

Secondary Structure of Proteins

Folding of the polypeptide chain into structures such as alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets due to hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary Structure of Proteins

The three-dimensional shape formed by the interactions of various amino acid side groups.

Quaternary Structure of Proteins

The assembly of multiple polypeptide chains into a functional protein.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Substrate

The reactants in a chemical reaction that enzymes act upon.

Cofactors

Non-protein molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing reactions.

Nucleotides

Building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that stores genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, essential for translating genetic information into proteins.

Vitamins

Organic compounds required in small quantities in the diet for normal physiological functions.

Micronutrients

Essential vitamins and minerals required by the body in small amounts.

Antioxidants

Molecules that prevent oxidative damage to cells by neutralizing free radicals.