MACROMOLECULES

• What are macromolecule?

  Macromolecules are the 4 main organic compounds that are found in living cells: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.
• Carbohydrates are macromolecules made up of sugar subunits(monosaccharide)


  subunit(mononer) of carbohydrates is called a monosaccharide e.g (glucose,fructose and galactose).

  2-subunits are called disaccharide e.g (sucrose,lactose and maltose).

  polymer of carbohydrates are called polysaccharides e.g (starch,glycogen,cellulose)
• Carbohydrate polymers are held together by glycosidic bonds
• Functions of carbohydrates :

  • source of energy(glycogen in animals,starches in plants)
  • structure of cells- cellulose is found in cell walls)
• Lipids are macromolecules made up of 2 subunits which are glycerol and fatty acids.

  • subunit or monomer of lipids are fatty acids and glycerol.
  • polymers of lipids are triglycerides and phospholipids
  • they are held together by Ester bonds
• Functions of lipids:

  • It stores energy
  • It protects against heat loss
  • It protects against water loss
• Proteins: There are 20 types of amnio acids.we are capable of producing 11 of them and we must obtain 9 of them through our diets.


  Subunits of proteins are called amnio acids.

  polymers are

  They are held together by peptide bonds.
• Functions of proteins:

  • They make up structures in the cells and body.
  • Enzymes(some protein catalyst) speed up chemical reactions.
  • Immunity-antibodies(white blood cells).
  • Chemical messengers(enzymes) are made of proteins.
• Nucleic acid carry genetic Information needed for cells to function.

  types are DNA(deoxyribonucliec acid) and RNA(ribonucliec acid).Monomers of nucleic acid are called
• Organic compounds are compounds that are primarily made up of carbon and hydrogen.
• Monomers are a single subunits while polymers are 2 or more subunits