Structures and functions of different types of biomolecules

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids

Biomolecule (Protein)

Protein (enzyme, hormone)

Protein Structure

Contains carbon (C), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and

possibly sulfur (S) atoms; made of amino acids; large and complex

Protein Function

Used to build cells; Structural molecule (like keratin in fingernails); enzyme, hormone, transport molecule (like hemoglobin in blood); contractions

Biomolecule (Lipids)

(fats, steroid, wax, oil, fatty acid)

Lipids Structure

Contains carbon(C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), and possibly other atoms: ratio of hydrogen (H) atoms to oxygen (O) atoms is high; insoluble (does not dissolve) in water

Lipids Function

Source of energy; cell membrane component; protective coating (like wax); chemical messenger (like cholesterol)

Carbohydrates (Biomolecule)

(Sugar, Starch)

Carbohydrates (structure)

Contains carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H) atoms; ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms is 2:1

Carbohydrates (Function)

Source of energy (like glucose); structural molecule (cellulose)

Nucleic acid (biomolecule)

(DNA and RNA)

Nucleic Acids (Structure)

Contains a carbohydrate (sugar) group, phosphate group (PO4

-3), and a nitrogen base (adenine, thymine (in DNA only) or uracil (in

RNA only), cytosine, and guanine; very large and complex

Nucleic Acids (Function)

Carrier of genetic information and instructions of protein synthesis

Cells Use ATP from Biochemical energy for

Active transport, Movement, Photosynthesis, Protein Synthesis, Cellular respiration, and all other cellular reactions

CARBOHYDRATE (Sugar – Glucose)

PROTEIN (One Amino Acid)

LIPID (Fat)

NUCLEIC ACID (One Nucleotide)