Monomers and Polymers of Organic Molecules

Study Notes

Four main organic molecules essential for life: lipids, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates.

Monomer of carbohydrates: glucose, a monosaccharide crucial for energy.
Polymers of carbohydrates: polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Starch and cellulose are derived from plants, while glycogen is animal-derived.

Monomers of lipids: glycerol and fatty acids.
Polymers of lipids include saturated fats, unsaturated fats, phospholipids, and steroids.
Phospholipids are vital components of cell membranes and consist of glycerol, a phosphate group, and fatty acid chains.

Monomer of nucleic acids: nucleotide, which includes bases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil.
Polymers of nucleic acids: DNA and RNA, which store and transmit genetic information.

Monomer of proteins: amino acids, the building blocks of proteins.
Polymer of proteins: polypeptide chains formed by peptide bonds between amino acids.

Monomers are small molecules that bond to form larger polymers.
Polymers are large organic molecules composed of repeating monomers, making up macromolecules.
Organic compounds, including proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids, are based on carbon.
Inorganic compounds, such as water and oxygen, do not contain carbon.
Activation energy is the minimum energy needed for a reaction to occur.
Enzymes lower activation energy, facilitating reactions by binding substrates at their active sites.

Serve three primary roles in cells: energy storage, structural components of cell membranes, and cell signaling molecules, particularly steroid hormones.