AP Bio Unit 1

Macromolecules

The basis for the structure and function of living organisms

Macromolecule components

CHNOPS: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur

Nitrogen

Nucleic acid and protein

Phosphorus

Nucleic acid and some lipids

Hydrogen

All

Biological macromolecules are formed from

Monomers

Dehydration synthesis

Carbohydrates

Polymers of sugar monomers

Lipids

Nonpolar (hydrophobic) macromolecules that function in energy storage, cell membranes, and insulation. Fatty acids are the building blocks

Phospholipids

Built from a glycerol molecule, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions

Steroids

Relatively flat non polar molecules

Nucleic acids

Polymers of nucleotides and function as the carriers of genetic information

Proteins

Polymers of amino acids. Function in enzyme, catalyst, maintaining cell structure, cell signaling cell recognition.

Amino acids are joined by

Peptide bonds

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA)

Five-carbon sugar (deoxyribose or ribose) , nitrogenous base (A, T, C, G, U), and a phosphate group

Pyrimidines

Thymine, uracil, cytosine

Purines

Adenine and guanine