Biomolecules

Carbohydrates

• Aka sugars

• Primary energy source of the body

  • Is quick energy

• Composed for carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

  • 1:2:1 ratio

  • (CH₂0)n

• Exist in different forms based on the number of sugar units (monomer/smallest unit)

  • Monosaccharides (building block)

    • Simple sugars

    • Building blocks of more complex sugars

    • Smallest and can't be broken down

    • Used in cellular respiration

    • Types

      • Glucose

        • Primary energy source for the body

        • Used in glucose IV drip for patients with low blood sugar

      • Fructose

        • Found in fruits and processed foods

        • Sweetest natural sugar

      • Galactose

        • Found in dairy products

        • Component of lactose

        • Important for brain development in infants

  • Disaccharides

    • Two sugars connected by a glycosidic bond

      • Monosaccharides is bonded by dehydration synthesis

        • Just remove the water

    • Provide energy and aid digestion

    • Types

      • Sucrose

        • Glucose and fructose

        • Table sugars

        • Common sweetener in food and drinks

        • Found in sugar cane, processed food, candies, and baked goods

      • Lactose

        • Galactose and glucose

        • Found in dairy

        • Provide for infants

        • Lactose intolerance occurs when people lack lactose enzyme

      • Maltose

        • Glucose and glucose

        • Found in cereal, beer, and malted drinks

        • Found in fermented grains used in brewing beer

        • Provides quick energy for digestion

  • Polysaccharides

    • Many sugars

    • Used for energy storage and structural support in plants and animals

    • Types

      • Starch

        • Found in rice, pasta, po

        • Main energy storage in plants

        • Easily broken down for energy in humans

        • Types

          • Amylose

            • Slow digesting starch

            • Linear structure

            • Found in basmati rice

          • Amylopectin

            • Fast digesting starch

      • Glycogen

        • Found in liver and muscles in animals

        • Energy for later use

        • Highly branched structure

        • Stored in muscles and liver

      • Cellulose

        • Found in the plant cell walls

        • Can't be digested by humans

        • Provide fiber in the human diet

Lipids

• Aka fats, oils, steroids, etc

• Hydrophobic energy reserves

  • Can also be a source of energy when we don't have carbohydrates in our body

  • Use lipids in intermittent fasting

  • Hydrophobic due to their nonpolar structure

• Building block is fatty acids and glycerol

  • Aka Triglycerides

• Trans fat

  • Artificial fat

  • Increases bad and lowers good cholesterol

• 4 Major Types

  • Triglycerides (building block)

    • Made of glycerol and 3 fatty acid chains

    • Long term energy storage, insulation, and protection

    • Types

      • Saturated fats

        • Good fats

        • Raises both good and bad cholesterol

        • Excessive intake can lead to heart disease

        • No double bonds

        • Solid at room temp

          • i.e. butter, lard

      • Unsaturated fat

        • Heart healthy fats

        • Lowers bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol

        • Have one or more double bonds

        • Liquid at room temp

          • i.e. olive oil, fish oil

        • A kink/deviation is formed

  • Phospholipids

    • Made of glycerol, 2 fatty acids, and a phosphate group

      • Fatty acid is inward

      • Phosphate group is outward

        • Hydrophilic head

    • Make up the cell membranes

    • Regulate what enters and exits the cell

    • Found in all cell membranes

  • Steroids

    • Made of 4 fused carbon rings instead of fatty acids

    • Regulate metabolism

    • Immune function

    • Hormone production

    • i.e. cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen, cortisol

  • Waxes

    • Made up of long fatty acid chains links to alcohols or carbon rings

    • Waterproofing

    • Protection in plants and animals

    • i.e beeswax, earwax, plant cuticles

• Proteins

  • Building blocks of the body

  • Workhorses of the cell

  • Most diverse biomolecules

  • Responsible for enzymatic reactions, transport, and structure

  • Made up of amino acids (building block)

    • Linked by peptide bonds

    • 9 essential amino acids

      • Important to consume because our bodies cannot produce them

    • 11 non-essential amino acids

      • No need to consume them because our body can produce them

  • Functions

    • Structural support

    • Catalysis of biochemical reactions

    • Transport of molecules

    • Communication between cells

    • Immune Reponses

• Nucleic Acids

  • Genetic material

    • Something to do with our genes

  • Blueprint of life

  • Store and transmit genetic information

  • Composed of nucleotides

    • Made up of sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogen base

  • Structure

    • DNA

      • Double helix structure

        • Mae it easy to replicate and stable

      • Stores genetic information

    • RNA

      • Single stranded

      • Helps in protein synthesis

        • Allows it to carry the instructions for making proteins

    • ATP

      • Direct energy carries in cells

        • Contains high energy phosphate bonds

        • Makes it the cell's energy currency

      • Isn't a nucleic acid bit a nucleic acid derivative