Chapter 5 - The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

Macromolecules

1. Large molecules composed of thousands of covalently connected atoms

2. Polymers built from monomers

   1. Proteins

   2. Carbohydrates

   3. Lipids

   4. Nucleic acids

Polymer

1. Long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers held together by covalent bonds

2. Poly - Many

Monomers

1. The individual units of polymers

2. Mono - One

Enzymes

1. Polymers used to speed up reactions

2. Lowers the activation energy needed to start a reaction

Dehydration Reaction

1. A H2O molecule is removed in order to covalently bond 2 molecules

2. Used to assemble polymers from monomers

Hydrolysis Reaction

1. A H2O molecule is added to break the bond between monomers

2. Digestion

Carbohydrates

1. Monosaccharides —> Disaccharides —> Polysaccharides

2. 
   

Lipids

1. Glycerol + Fatty Acids —> Triglycerides

2. 
   

Proteins

1. Amino Acids —> Peptides —> Polypeptides —> Proteins

2. 50% of dry mass of most cells

Nucleic Acids

1. Nucleotides —> RNA/DNA

Amino Acids

1. Organic molecules made up of a carboxyl group and an amino group

2. Physical and chemical properties determined by the side chain

3. Covalently bonded in peptide bonds

Protein Structure

1. Primary - The sequence of a chain of amino acids

2. Secondary - Folded form the chain of amino acids takes (Pleated sheet or Alpha helix)

3. Tertiary - 3D folding pattern

4. Quaternary - More than one amino acid chain