Biology Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins & Nucleic Acids

Polymers

Large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers.

Dehydration synthesis

A chemical reaction that involves the formation of a bond between two molecules with the removal of water.

Hydroxyl group

A functional group consisting of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (-OH).

Monomers

Small, single units that can join together to form polymers.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down a compound by adding water.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically with a hydrogen to oxygen ratio of 2:1.

Sugars

Simple carbohydrates that are sweet, soluble, and used as a source of energy.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules like glucose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by the combination of two monosaccharides, such as sucrose.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that are made up of long chains of monosaccharide units, such as starch and glycogen.

Glucose

A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms.

Fructose

A monosaccharide found in many plants, often bonded with glucose to form sucrose.

Galactose

A monosaccharide that combines with glucose to form lactose, the sugar found in milk.

Ribose

A five-carbon sugar that is a component of RNA.

Deoxyribose

A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA, lacking one oxygen atom compared to ribose.

Lipids

A diverse group of hydrophobic organic compounds, including fats, oils, and phospholipids.

Triglycerides

A type of fat found in the body, composed of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule.

Saturated fats

Fats that have no double bonds between carbon atoms, typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats

Fats that contain one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, usually liquid at room temperature.

Trans fats

Unsaturated fats that have been hydrogenated to make them solid, often associated with health risks.

Omega 3

A type of polyunsaturated fatty acid that is essential for human health.

Fatty acid

A carboxylic acid with a long aliphatic chain, which can be saturated or unsaturated.

Phospholipids

Lipids that contain a phosphate group, forming the structural basis of cell membranes.

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings, including hormones like testosterone.

Proteins

Large biomolecules made up of amino acids, essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's tissues and organs.

Amino acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

Protein structure

The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a protein, which determines its function.

Polypeptides

Chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds that fold into functional proteins.

Primary structure

The linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary structure

The local folded structures that form within a protein due to hydrogen bonding, such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets.

Tertiary structure

The overall three-dimensional shape of a protein, formed by the folding of the secondary structures.

Quaternary structure

The structure formed when two or more polypeptide chains aggregate to form a functional protein.

Fibrous proteins

Structural proteins that are elongated and insoluble in water, such as collagen.

Globular proteins

Compact, spherical proteins that are usually soluble in water, such as enzymes.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Nucleic acids

Biomolecules that store and transmit genetic information, including DNA and RNA.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions for the development and functioning of living organisms.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule that plays a crucial role in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in cells.

ADP

Adenosine diphosphate, a molecule that is converted to ATP for energy storage.