Macromolecules

Monomer (Monosaccharide)

The building blocks of carbohydrates; simple sugars.

Glucose

A monosaccharide; example of a simple sugar with the formula C₆H₁₂O₆.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage.

Sucrose

A disaccharide formed from glucose and fructose.

Polysaccharide

Many monosaccharides linked together.

Glycosidic linkage

The covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides during a dehydration reaction.

Triglyceride

A lipid made of 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol; main form of stored energy.

Steroid

A lipid with a four-ring carbon skeleton; includes cholesterol and hormones.

Glycerol

A 3-carbon alcohol that serves as the backbone for triglycerides and phospholipids.

Fatty Acid

A long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end.

Phospholipid

A lipid made of 2 fatty acids, glycerol, and a phosphate group; forms cell membranes.

Saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with no double bonds; straight chains that are solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid with one or more double bonds; bent chains that are liquid at room temperature.

Ester bond

The covalent bond formed between glycerol's -OH and a fatty acid's -COOH during triglyceride formation.

Amino acids

Monomers of proteins that contain an amino group, a carboxyl group, hydrogen, and an R-group.

Peptide bond

Covalent bond formed between amino acids via dehydration.

Primary structure

The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.

Secondary structure

Local folding of a polypeptide into α-helices or β-pleated sheets stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary structure

The overall 3D shape of a single polypeptide, stabilized by various interactions.

Quaternary structure

The association of multiple polypeptide chains into a functional protein.