Biology Macromolecules Quiz

Macromolecules

• Four main macromolecules exist: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
• Also known as biomolecules, organic molecules, or organic compounds.
• A monomer is the fundamental subunit of a macromolecule.

Carbohydrates

• Provide rapid energy for the body.
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO).
• Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are in a 1:2:1 ratio (CH₂O).
• Monosaccharides are the basic units of carbohydrates.
• Glucose is the most common monosaccharide.
• Glycogen is the storage form of carbohydrates in animals.
• Starch is the storage form of carbohydrates in plants.
• Cellulose forms the structural framework of plants.
• Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides.

Lipids

• Functions include long-term energy storage, insulation, and membrane formation.
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO).
• Lipids have a higher ratio of carbon to hydrogen compared to oxygen.
• Fatty acids are the fundamental units of lipids.
• Phospholipids are essential components of plasma membranes.
• High cholesterol levels can contribute to heart problems.
• Steroids are used in the production of sex hormones.
• Lipids are hydrophobic, meaning they do not mix with water.

Proteins

• Act as the functional molecules within cells.
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON).
• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
• Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood.
• Insulin regulates blood sugar levels.
• Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions.

Nucleic Acids

• Carry genetic information.
• Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus (CHONP).
• Nucleotides are the fundamental units of nucleic acids.
• DNA and RNA are crucial nucleic acids in biological systems.

Enzymes

• Proteins that catalyze chemical reactions.
• Essential for life, enabling reactions to occur at appropriate speeds.
• Enzymes modify substrates.
• Enzyme-substrate complexes are formed during the reaction.
• Enzymes remain unchanged and reusable throughout the reaction.

Enzyme Facts

• An enzyme's unique shape determines its function.
• The substrate precisely fits the enzyme's active site.
• Enzymes are specific, binding only to a particular substrate.
• Enzymes are reusable, their structure unchanged after the reaction.
• Denaturation occurs if an enzyme's shape is altered, rendering it inactive.
• Denaturation can result from high temperatures or low pH.
• Enzymes reduce the activation energy required to initiate reactions.
• Activation energy is the initial energy needed for a reaction to start.
• Enzymes speed up reactions by decreasing the activation energy needed.