U2 BIOMOLECULES & ENZYMES 🧪

  • biomolecules are also known as macromolecules

  • a monomer is a building block usually referring to the same type of block that makes up something larger

  • macromolecules include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids

CARBOHYDRATES

carbohydrate structure diagram

  • carbohydrates are a FAST energy source for cells

  • the monomer of a carbohydrate is a monosaccharide

    • an example of a monosaccharide is the sugar glucose (used in cellular respiration to make ATP)

  • two monosaccharides combined form a disaccharide

  • sugars include glucose, maltose, lactose, sucrose, fructose

  • combining many monosaccharides creates a polysaccharide

    • energy can be stored in this polysaccharide form such as starch for plants or glycogen for animals

  • plants have cell walls of carbohydrates, specifically a large one called cellulose

  • fungi have carbohydrates in their walls, specifically chitin

LIPIDS

lipid structure diagram

  • lipids are a source of LONG-TERM energy storage and also help w insulation such as temp control through the blubber of a seal

  • many lipids act as hormones which are chemical messengers

  • lipids include fat and oils such as butter

  • types of lipids include triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, etc.

    • steroids include hormones such as estrogen and testosterone

  • most lipids have a monomer made up of a glycerol and fatty acid

  • all lipids are generally hydrophobic, meaning that major component of lipids don’t like water

  • they serve their function in the phospholipid bilayer of cells

PROTEINS

protein structure diagram

  • protein food sources include beans, meats, nuts, & eggs, etc.

  • the monomer is an amino acid

    • proteins are usually made up of many amino acids bonded together

  • muscle tissues heavily consists of proteins and make other things such as hair or collagen

  • proteins can also be found embedded in cell membranes as protein channels

  • proteins can also be receptors which are critical in cell signaling

  • most enzymes are made of proteins which build or break substances in metabolic processes

    • enzymes speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy

  • anti-bodies made by immune cells are made of proteins

  • even though genes are made of DNA, many genes code for proteins

  • proteins have 4 levels of structure

    • primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary

  • main functions of proteins

    • structure, transport, enzymes, antibodies, receptors, hormones, movement (muscle)

NUCLEIC ACIDS

nucleic acid structure diagram

  • nucleic acids include DNA & RNA

    • DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid (deoxyribose)

    • RNA = ribonucleic acid (ribose)

    • nitrogen bases: A, T, C, G (DNA); A, U, C, G (RNA)

  • the monomer is a nucleotide that has a sugar, base, and phosphate group

  • important to cells because they store your genetic information in the form as nucleic acids which is critical for the coding of your traits