1. Fun with Macromolecules
Molecules of Life
Fun with Macromolecules

2. Biochemistry Terms
Organic Compounds – Carbon containing compounds produced by living organisms.
Macromolecule – when smaller molecules join together to form a larger more complex molecule.

3. Important Macromolecules
There are four types of macromolecules that make up all living organisms:
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

4. Elements found in the four macromolecules:
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
FOUND IN ALL!

5. Carbohydrates

6. 1) Carbohydrates Elements: Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen Arrangement:
CHO
Arrangement:
ratio of one carbon, two hydrogen, and one oxygen.
Form a RING or chains of RINGS
Subunits: Monosaccharides
Function:
Quick energy…their bonds store a lot of energy!
Structural support (plants)

7. i) Simple Monomer-simplest unit Simple = Monosaccharides (C6H12O6)
Glucose from plants
Fructose from fruits
Galactose from milk
Glucose Fructose

8. ii) Complex Polymer-larger units made of monomers
Complex = Disaccharides (C12H24O12) -- two
Sucrose = glucose & fructose (table sugar)
Lactose = glucose & galactose
Sucrose
Lactose

9. iii) Very Complex Polymer-larger units made of monomers
Very Complex=Polysaccharides(CxHyOx) -- many
Starch - food storage, plants
Cellulose – plant support
Glycogen – energy storage, animals
Cellulose

11. CHO 2) Lipids Elements carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms
Arranged in CHAINS
Subunits: glycerol and fatty acids (and sometimes phosphate)
Function:
Better for storing energy-more bonds than carbohydrates.

12. Lipid Types Fats = energy storage Steroids = hormones & cholesterol
Waxes = protective coatings (ear wax and cuticle of plant leaves)
Phospholipids = cell membrane

14. 3) Proteins CHON Elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Arrangement: multiple folds
Subunits: aminoacids
Functions:
Structural proteins-
Fibrous proteins…building blocks of cells
Globular proteins-
Enzymes – aids chemical reactions
Messenger and transport proteins (cell membrane)

15. Generalized Amino Acid
There are 20 different types of amino acids and they can form new proteins based upon their order and the number of them present in a protein chain.
Generalized Amino Acid

17. Nucleic Acids

18. 4) Nucleic Acids DNA and RNA
Elements
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
CHONP
Subunits: nucleotides
Function:
Control genetic or heredity information

19. i) Types of Nucleic Acids
There are two types of nucleic acids:
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
directs all cell activities and codes for genes
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
directs protein creation and transfers information

20. How they are made:
Monomers form polymers using a process known as dehydration synthesis (removes a water molecule).
Polymers are broken down using a process known as hydrolysis (“breaks” or lyses a water molecule and “adds” it).

21. Any Questions?