Elements, Monomers, and Functions of Macromolecules

Flashcards covering elements, monomers, and functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, as well as dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.

Carbohydrates

Provides immediate energy for cells; monomers are rings of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (ratio 1:2:1); monomer is a monosaccharide and polymer is a polysaccharide.

Lipids

Provides long-term energy storage for cells; monomers are long chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (ratio 1:2:<1); monomers are fatty acids and polymer is a triglyceride.

Proteins

Speeds up chemical reactions (enzymes), provides structural support, and antibodies defend against bacteria and viruses; monomers are long chains of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; monomers are amino acids and polymer is a polypeptide.

Nucleic Acids

Contains genetic information to build proteins; monomers are long chains of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus; monomers are nucleotides and polymers are DNA and RNA.

Dehydration Synthesis

Monomers bond together to form a polymer with the removal of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

Addition of water that breaks bonds between monomers; opposite of dehydration synthesis.

Monosaccharide

One sugar unit

Polysaccharide

Many sugar units (starch, glycogen, cellulose).

Amino Acids

Building blocks of proteins, 20 in total, 9 of which are essential.

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids, containing a phosphate group, pentose (5C) sugar, and nitrogen base.