Biomolecules PDF

STRUCTURES AND FUCNTIONS OF B I O L O G I C A L M O L E C U L E S P AT R I C E D U A N E A. V E R G A R A , L P T Biomolecules A biomolecule is a molecule that is present in all living organisms, involved in the maintenance and metabolic process....

STRUCTURES AND FUCNTIONS OF B I O L O G I C A L M O L E C U L E S P AT R I C E D U A N E A. V E R G A R A , L P T Biomolecules A biomolecule is a molecule that is present in all living organisms, involved in the maintenance and metabolic process. 2 Types of Carbohydrates Biomolecules Lipids Nucleic Acids Proteins 3 Scientific findings 4  Carbohydrates C a r b o h y d r a t e s a r e d e f in e d a s b i o m o l e c u l e s c o n t a i n i n g a g r o u p o f n a t u ra l l y o c c u r r i n g c a r b o n y l c o m p o u n d s ( a l d e h y d e s o r k e t o n e s ) a n d s e v e ra l hydroxyl groups. It consists of carbon (C), hy d ro g e n ( H ) , a nd o x y g e n ( O) a t o m s, usua l l y w i t h a hyd ro g e n- o x yg e n at o m rat i o o f 2 : 1 ( as i n w at e r). Must ab und ant o rg ani c m o l e c ul e s i n nat ure. Scientific findings 5 6  Monosaccharides Mon os acch arides are th e simplest carbohydrates and cannot be hydrolyzed into other smaller carbohydrates. T h e “ m o n o ” i n monosaccharides means one, which shows the presence of only one sugar unit. 7 8  Disaccharides Disaccharides consist of two sugar units. When subjected to a dehydration reaction (condensation reaction or dehydration synthesis), they release two monosaccharide units. FUNCTIONS OF DISACCHARIDES: Sucrose is a product of photosynthesis, which functions as a major source of carbon and energy in plants. Lactose is a major source of energy in animals. Maltose is an important intermediate in starch and glycogen digestion. 9  Oligosaccharides Oligosaccharides are compounds that yield 3 to 10 molecules of the same or different monosaccharides on hydrolysis. FUNCTIONS OF OLIGOSACCHARIDES Glycoproteins are carbohydrates attached to proteins involved in critical functions such as antigenicity, solubility, and resistance to proteases. Glycolipids are carbohydrates attached to lipids that are important for cell recognition and modulate membrane proteins that act as receptors. Oligosaccharides are a component of fiber from plant tissues. 10  Polysaccharides Polysaccharides are a chain of more than 10 carbohydrates joined together through glycosidic bond formation. They are ubiquitous and mainly involved in the structural or storage functions of organisms. They are also known as glycans. 11 Functions of Polysaccharides Structural polysaccharides: They provide mechanical stability to cells, organs, and organisms. Examples include chitin and cellulose. Chitin is involved in the synthesis of fungal cell walls, while cellulose is an important constituent of diet for ruminants. 12  Storage polysaccharides: They are carbohydrate storage reserves that release sugar monomers when required by the body. Examples include starch, glycogen, and inulin. Starch stores energy for plants, and in animals, it is catalyzed by the enzyme amylase (found in saliva) to f u l f il l t h e e n e r g y r e q u i r e m e n t. G l y c o g e n i s a polysaccharide food reserve of animals, bacteria, and fungi, while insulin is a storage reserve in plants.
Scientific findings 13  a chemically diverse class of organic molecules that are LIPIDS grouped because they are all largely nonpolar. Because they are nonpolar they are soluble in organic solvents like chloroform, benzene, acetone, paint thinner, etc. and insoluble in water 14  The major classes of lipids are fatty acids, neutral fats, phospholipids, and steroids (or sterols).

Lipids have many functions including energy storage, cell membrane structure, vitamins (biochemical helpers) and hormones (substances produced in one part of the body that have effects on other parts of the body). 15 Scientific findings 16 Scientific findings 17 18  Proteins are polymers of amino acids arranged in the form of polypeptide chains. PROTEINS Proteins serve as enzymes (biological catalysts), for defense, transport, support, motion, regulation, and storage. 19 NUCLEIC ACID 20 Nucleic acids refer to the genetic material found in the cell that carries all the hereditary information from parents to progeny.


There are two types of nucleic acids namely, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).





The main function of nucleic acid is the transfer of genetic information and synthesis of proteins by processes known as translation and transcription.


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