1. Carbs, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids
Molecules of Life
Carbs, Proteins, Lipids and Nucleic Acids

2. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are better known as sugars
These supply organisms with energy and structural support
They come from a variety of sources and come in a variety of shapes and sizes
They are polymers that come in repeating units

3. Carbohydrates Monosaccharides are single units of sugar
Saccar is Greek for sugar
Disaccharides are two monosaccharides joined together
Polysaccharides are three or more monosaccharides put together

4. Carbohydrates
Monosaccharides are generally have molecular formulas that are similar to glucose C6H12O6
They also have two other trademarks of a sugar
Hydroxyl Groups
A carbonyl group

5. Carbohydrates Most common monosaccharides form in rings
This is a structurally more stable arrangement
Common monosaccharides are glucose and fructose
Some common disaccharides are maltose and lactose

6. Carbohydrates
Polysaccharides do many different functions and can be thousands of monomers long
Some common ones are starch, cellulose and chitin

7. Table Name Monomer Polymer Function Calories/Gram Carbohydrates
monosaccharide
polysaccharide
Energy and structural
4 k/g

8. Lipids
Lipids are diverse compounds that are grouped together because they do not mix with water
You can see this in any bottle of salad dressing where the oil does not mix with the vinegar
Lipids do not follow the typical monomer and polymer

9. Lipids One major type of lipid is a fat
Fats are large molecules made from smaller molecules, glycerol and fatty acids
A glycerol is a three carbon alcohol
A triglyceride is a glycerol that has three carbon chains attached to it
A fatty acid is a long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group attached

10. Lipids Some fatty acids have double bonds and some do not
Fatty acids with no double bonds are considered saturated fatty acids
Fatty acids with one or more double bonds are considered unsaturated fatty acids

11. Lipids Fats have the function of long term energy storage
Carbohydrates and proteins contain 4 calories/gram of energy
Fats contain 9 calories/gram of energy

12. Lipids
Phospholipids are similar to fats, but they contain only two fatty acid chains
This makes the “head” a slightly different charge than the “tail”
These form in double layers that wrap around the cell

13. Lipids
Steroids are lipids in which the carbon skeleton contains four fused rings
Cholesterol is a type of steroid
Waxes are a different type of lipid that have long chains of carbons

14. Long term energy storage
Table
Name
Monomer
Polymer
Function
Calories/Gram
Carbohydrates
monosaccharide
polysaccharide
Energy and structural
4 k/g
Lipids
Long term energy storage
9 k/g

15. Proteins Proteins are polymers that contain on of 20 amino acids
Amino acids are compounds that contain three major things held together by a central carbon
Amino Group
Carboxyl Group
An R’ group

16. Proteins
Amino acids link together to create a larger segment called a linear polypeptide
They link together by a dehydration reaction
Once linked they have a specific type of bond called a peptide bond

17. Proteins
When multiple amino acids come together they can bend, twist and turn to be structurally stable
The molecule will twist based on what amino acid sequence is in the protein

18. Proteins The structure of the protein determines its function
The specific shape makes the protein fit in to receptors or enzymes

19. Proteins Protein functions include Structure Signaling
Enzymes (biological catalysts)
Energy

20. Table Name Monomer Polymer Function Calories/Gram Carbohydrates
monosaccharide
polysaccharide
Energy and structural
4 k/g
Lipids
Long term energy storage
9 k/g
Proteins
Amino acids
Polypeptides/
Structural, Signaling, Enzymes, Energy

21. Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids are long chains of repeating molecules
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are the two types
These both are used to store and send information

22. Nucleic Acids Nucleic acids have monomers called nucleotides
A nucleotide is a molecule that contains a phosphate group, a sugar and a nitrogenous base
The nitrogen base can be different from nucleotide to nucleotide

23. Nucleic Acids Nucleotides fit together to form a long chain polymer
DNA forms a double helix
RNA forms a single helix

24. Table Name Monomer Polymer Function Calories/Gram Carbohydrates
monosaccharide
polysaccharide
Energy and structural
4 k/g
Lipids
Long term energy storage
9 k/g
Proteins
Amino acids
Polypeptides/
Structural, Signaling, Enzymes, Energy
Nucleic Acids
nucleotide
DNA/RNA
Information Storage