Biomolecules (2)

• Biomolecules of Life


  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
• Lipids


  • Monomers: Fatty Acids
  • Commonly called stored-energy molecules because they store more energy than carbohydrates and protein
  • Made up of the elements Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen
• Lipids


  • Esters of fatty acids and glycerol or alcohols
  • Fats or Oils - are esters of fatty acids with glycerol
  • Waxes - are esters of fatty acids with alcohols
  • Composed of fatty acids, alcohols and other groups such as phosphate, nitrogenous bases, proteins, carbohydrates, and others
  • Phospholipids - are compounds containing fatty acids and glycerol in addition to a phosphoric acid, nitrogen bases and other substituents
  • Glycolipids - are essential components of all membranes in the body
• Bond between lipids


  Ester linkages / bonds
• Cholesterol


  • Not always bad for you
  • Your body needs cholesterol to perform important functions, such as making hormones and building cells
  • Bad cholesterol can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, which is a major risk factor for heart attack, heart disease, and stroke
• Nucleic Acids


  • Monomers: Nucleotides
  • Known as the biomolecular components of hereditary materials
• Bond between nucleotides


  Phosphodiester bond
• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)


  • Contains the genetic code
  • Stores & transmits genetic information
  • Found in the nucleus (mitochondria)
  • Double stranded (structure: double helix)
• RNA (ribonucleic acid)


  • Carries info from DNA to the body cells
  • Helps protein synthesis
  • Found in the ribosomes and nucleoli
  • Single stranded