Biomolecules Overview Quiz

Study Notes

Biomolecules are organic molecules essential for life, produced by living organisms.
Four major classes: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
These biomolecules vary in structure and perform diverse functions.

Monomers are the basic building blocks of polymers.
They are small, simple molecules.
Examples include monosaccharides (carbohydrates), amino acids (proteins), nucleotides (nucleic acids), and fatty acids (lipids).
Monomers link together via dehydration synthesis to form polymers.

Polymers are large, complex molecules composed of repeating monomer subunits.
They are formed by joining monomers together through covalent bonds.
Examples include polysaccharides (carbohydrates), proteins (amino acids), and nucleic acids (nucleotides).
Polymers often have specific shapes and structures, determined by the arrangement of monomers, which affect their function.

Function: Provide energy and structural support.
Monomers: Monosaccharides (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose).
Polymers: Disaccharides (e.g., sucrose, lactose) and polysaccharides (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).
Carbohydrates often serve as a key energy source for cellular processes and are involved in other crucial biological functions.

Function: Store energy, provide insulation, form cell membranes.
Examples: Fats, oils, waxes, steroids (e.g., cholesterol).
Monomers: Fatty acids and glycerol (generally).
Structure: Often composed of long hydrocarbon chains.
Fats and oils are important energy storage molecules, while phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes. Steroids, like cholesterol, have vastly different functions.

Function: Diverse, including catalyzing reactions (enzymes), transporting molecules, providing structural support, and mediating responses to stimuli.
Monomers: Amino acids (20 different types).
Structure: Complex three-dimensional shapes determined by the sequence and interactions of amino acids. A protein's function depends upon its shape.
Proteins are essential for many cellular functions, acting as enzymes, transport proteins, structural components, and more.

Function: Store and transmit genetic information.
Types: DNA and RNA.
Monomers: Nucleotides (e.g., adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, uracil).
Structure: Long chains of nucleotides with a sugar-phosphate backbone.
DNA stores genetic information, while RNA plays crucial roles in protein synthesis and other cellular processes.

The specific structure of a biomolecule directly relates to its function.
For example, the precise sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its shape and therefore its function.
The folded shape of a protein dictates its ability to bind to other molecules.
The shape and arrangement of a molecule plays a critical role in its function as a catalyst, structural element, or transporter, etc.
The molecular shapes of biomolecules are essential for their interactions within a living cell.