Macromolecules (Bio 11 Unit 1)

Organic Compounds: A Brief Introduction

Organic Compounds

• Always contain carbon (C) and hydrogen (H).
• May also contain oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
• Found in all living things.
• Examples:
  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic Acids

Inorganic Compounds

• Do not contain carbon and hydrogen together.
• Examples:
  • Oxygen
  • Water
  • Carbon dioxide

Macronutrients

• "Macro" = large
• Large molecules composed of several subunits joined together.

Carbohydrates

• Made of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
• Simple sugar formula: \text{C}6\text{H}{12}\text{O}_6
• Function: Short-term energy storage.

Carbohydrates - Types

• Monosaccharide (simple sugar)
  • Composed of 1 simple sugar.
  • Examples: Glucose, fructose, galactose.
• Disaccharide
  • Composed of 2 simple sugars.
  • Examples: Sucrose, maltose, lactose.
• Polysaccharide
  • Composed of many simple sugars.
  • Examples: Starch, glycogen, cellulose.

Plants, Animals, and Glucose

• Plants transform energy from the sun into energy stored in carbohydrate molecules through photosynthesis.
• Animals rely on plants for their carbohydrates.
• Even animals that eat other animals depend on plants as the initial source for carbohydrates.

Lipids

• Made of fatty acids and glycerol (also known as a triglyceride).
• Functions:
  • Long-term nutrient and energy storage.
  • Insulation.
  • Cushioning internal organs.
  • Hormones.
  • Cell membrane (phospholipids).

Proteins

• Made up of amino acids.
• Held together by peptide bonds.
• Functions:
  • Structural: Found in hair, fingernails, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
  • Enzymes.
  • Cell transport (integral proteins).
  • Chemical messengers (hormones).

Nucleic Acids

• Composed of nucleotides.
• Function: Carry genetic information.
• Determine growth, development, cell functions, and characteristics.
• Examples: DNA and RNA.