biomolecules

macromolecule a large

molecule that has an

important structural or

functional role in cells

polymer a large molecule

built up from linking

smaller molecules

together in a repeating

pattern

monomer a small

molecule that is a

building block for

polymers

carbohydrates a group of

compounds containing

carbon, hydrogen and

oxygen; important as

structural components

and as energy sources

monosaccharide a

simple sugar, such as

glucose, which cannot be

broken down into smaller

sugar molecules polysaccharide a

complex carbohydrate

that is made by linking

together simple sugarscellulose a

polysaccharide made of

b-glucose subunits that

is the main component

of plant cell walls

starch an important

energy-storing

polysaccharide for plants,

made of α-glucose with

some branching

glycogen an important

energy-storing

polysaccharide in animals,

made of α-glucose with

extensive branching

polypeptide a polymer of

amino acids, also known

as a protein

amino acid a nitrogen-

containing compound

that is the building block

of proteins

R group a side chain

in a molecule that

confers distinguishing

properties to the

molecule; the R group

is what differentiates

the 20 different kinds of

amino acidsfatty acid a type of

organic acid that

combines with glycerol to

form a triglyceride

glycerol a molecule that

combines with three

fatty acids to form a

triglyceride

saturated referring to an

organic molecule that

only has single bonds

between its carbonsunsaturated referring to

an organic molecule that

has at least one double

bond along its carbon

chain; a prefix, such as

mono- or poly-, refers to

how many double bonds

are present