Biology Macromolecules Overview

Macromolecules Overview

• Macromolecules are large organic molecules containing carbon, making up all living things
• Examples include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
• Living things cannot survive without macromolecules
• These molecules perform various functions, including running the body, carrying information for bodily functions, and providing energy
• The rest of the semester's material will correlate with macromolecules

Structure Overview

• Monomers are small basic subunits, like individual bricks or single words
• Polymers are larger, more complex structures formed from monomers, like a brick wall or a sentence

Polymer Formation (Dehydration Reaction)

• Dehydration reaction links monomers to build polymers by removing a water molecule
• During dehydration, excess glucose is converted into glycogen for storage

Polymer Breakdown (Hydrolysis)

• Hydrolysis breaks down polymers into monomers by adding water
• This process occurs in the digestive system, breaking down complex starches into simpler sugars

Carbohydrates

• Main Function: Short-term energy storage
• Other Uses: Structure, transport, and signaling
• Found In: Sugars and starches
• Composition: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O)
• Monomer: Monosaccharides (single sugars) - Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose
• Polymer: Polysaccharides (larger sugar molecules) - Examples include starch and glycogen (animal storage), and cellulose (plant cell wall support).
• Energy Storage: 4 calories/gram

Lipids

• Main Function: Long-term energy storage
• Other Uses: Insulation, protection, and structure
• Found In: Fats, oils, phospholipids (in cell membranes), and steroids
• Composition: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), and Oxygen (O)
• Monomer: Fatty acids
• Polymer: Triglycerides
• Energy Storage: 9 calories/gram

Phospholipids

• Structure: Two fatty acids and one phosphate group
  • Hydrophilic head (phosphate group): Water-loving
  • Hydrophobic tails (fatty acids): Water-hating
• Phospholipid Bilayer: Two layers making up cell plasma membranes
• Selectively Permeable: Controls what enters and leaves the cell

Proteins

• Main Function: Perform many functions necessary for survival due to flexibility and diversity
• Functions: Enzymes (speed up reactions), hormones (regulate processes), structural components (like bones and muscles), transporting materials (like hemoglobin), aiding in immune responses (antibodies), movement (contractile proteins), signaling (receptors).
• Found In: Meats, nuts, and dairy
• Composition: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), and sometimes Phosphorus (P)
• Monomer: Amino acids
• Polymer: Polypeptide, chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
• Energy Storage: 4 calories/gram

Protein Structure

• The structure of a protein dictates its function
• The protein's shape determines its purpose

Nucleic Acids

• Main Function: Store, transmit, and express genetic information; instructions for making proteins
• Found In: DNA and RNA
• Composition: Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Nitrogen (N), and Phosphorus (P)
• Monomer: Nucleotides (Adenine, Guanine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Uracil)
• Polymer: Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)
• Energy Storage: 0 calories/gram

This quiz covers the essential concepts of macromolecules, including their structures, functions, and the processes of polymer formation and breakdown. Students will learn about the roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids in living organisms. Understanding these concepts is crucial as they form the basis for further study in biology.