Functions of different Biomolecules (#2)

Biomolecules/ Macromolecules: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acid, and Proteins.

Monomer: Building blocks

Carbohydrates:

• Food sources; FOR ENERGY.

  • E.g. Sugar, bread, pasta, fruit & veggies.

• Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen. (Ratio of 1:2:1)

• Carbohydrates are a FAST SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR CELLS. THE ENERGY CAN BE STORED IN A POLYSACCHARIDE FORM. (e.g. starch for plants, glycogen for animals.)

Monomer of Carbohydrates: Monosaccharide (e.g. sugar, glucose)

MONOSACCHARIDE + MONOSACCHARIDE= DISACCHARIDE

Polysaccharide: BIG CARBOHYDRATE (Poly=many).

Function: Major energy source (starch, glucose).

Lipids:

• Long-term energy storage; reserves & moves energy, builds & acts as hormones (chemical messengers for different processes), absorbs vitamins

• e.g. fats & oils, butter, olive oil

• Lipids are diverse.

  • (e.g. Triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids.)

  • Phospholipids build the cell-membrane structure

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen (Ratio of 1:2)

• Lipids are hydrophobic or contain significant hydrophobic components.

• Lipids make up cell-membrane structures

• Important for different insulations.

Monomer for lipids: Glycerol & Fatty Acids

Proteins:

• Proteins build muscle tissues, and cells, and repair; structural biomolecules.

• E.g. beans, meat, nuts, eggs

• Can be embedded in cell membranes as protein channels.

• Receptors

• Enzymes, Antibodies, some hormones, and many DNA codes for /are made of protein

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen

Monomer of Proteins: Amino Acids (20 essential amino acids)

Nucleic Acids:

• Carrier of genetic information & instructions for protein synthesis

• Includes DNA & RNA

• Needed for the coding of your traits

• EVERY ORGANISM CONTAINS NUCLEIC ACID

• Carbohydrate group, phosphate group, nitrogen base

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus

Monomer of Nucleic Acids: Nucleotide

Hydrolysis: The chemical breakdown of compounds due to a reaction with water; breaks polymers into monomers.

Dehydration Synthesis: Joins monomers into polymers.

Role of Enzymes

Enzymes:

MOST enzymes are proteins; they’re biological catalysts.

• Catalysts: Enzymes that can be reused in the reaction

• Speeds rate of chemical reactions.

• TIP: Enzymes end in “-ase”

  • Sugars end in “-ose”

• E.g. Lactase enzymes, lactose sugar, oil saccharide

• Lactase is a disaccharide- two sugar molecules bond together

• Lactose can be quickly broken down and digested

  • Lactase can break lactose

• Fights infections

• Regulates body processes

• Looks like Pacman

(Protein)

• Active site: Where items combine

• Substrate: Surface on which an organism lives; includes abiotic and biotic material.

• Induced Fit Theory: The binding of a substrate/ another molecule to an enzyme causes a change in the shape of the active site to inhibit its activity.

• Cofactors & Coenzymes: Helps enzyme do its job of building up or breaking down substrates into products.