1. Biological molecules

• Monomer


  Basic unit of polymers. They combine to other monomers to form repeating chain molecules (a polymer)
• Monomers


  • Monosaccharides
  • Amino acids
  • Nucleotides
• Polymer


  Long molecule consisting of many smaller and identical repeating monomers
• Condensation reaction


  2 monomers combine with a chemical bond between
• Hydrolysis


  Breakdown of polymers into monomers (using a water molecule)
• Macromolecules


  Polymers - giant complex molecules
• Monomers


  • Monosaccharides
  • Amino acids
  • Nucleotides
• Important biological molecules


  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic acids
  • Proteins
• Carbohydrates


  Sugar, provide energy and structural support
• Nucleic acids


  Nucleotides, store genetic info
• Lipids


  Provide energy
• Proteins


  Amino acids, catalysing reactions
• Monosaccharides


  Simplest sugars
• Monosaccharides


  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Galactose
• Disaccharides


  Formed by condensation from two monosaccharides
• Disaccharides


  • Maltose
  • Sucrose
  • Lactose
• Polysaccharides


  Glycogen, starch and cellulose
• Condensation reaction


  A reaction that releases a molecule of water when it links molecules together, forming a chemical bond (glycosidic bond)
• Formation of disaccharides


  2 monosaccharide molecules are joined together in a condensation reaction, releasing a water molecule and forming a glycosidic bond
• Disaccharides


  • Maltose = glucose + glucose
  • Sucrose = glucose + fructose
  • Lactose = glucose and galactose
• Formation of maltose


  2 glucose (monosaccharide) molecules are joined together in a condensation reaction, releasing a water molecule and forming a glycosidic bond
• Starch


  Mixture of 2 polysaccharides (amylose and amylopectin), formed by condensation reactions with glycosidic bonds, stabilised by hydrogen bonds, stored in plants
• Cellulose


  Polysaccharide formed by condensation of beta-glucose molecules, straight chains linked by hydrogen bonds to form strong fibrils called microfibrils in cell walls, insoluble
• Glycogen


  Animal storage polysaccharide, formed by condensation of alpha-glucose with glycosidic bonds, compact structure with side branches for quick release
• Amino acid structure


  R group (variable side group) generally contains carbon
• Dipeptide formation


  Two amino acids linked together by a condensation reaction, forming a peptide bond
• Polypeptide formation


  Many amino acids linked together by condensation reactions, forming peptide bonds
• Lipids are not polymers, made from a variety of different components, all contain hydrocarbons
• Triglycerides


  Lipids containing 3 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic) and a glycerol head (hydrophilic), joined by ester bonds
• Phospholipids


  Lipids with 2 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic) and a phosphate group head (hydrophilic), form cell membranes
• Saturated fatty acids


  Fatty acids with single bonds, fully saturated with hydrogen
• Unsaturated fatty acids


  Fatty acids with double bonds, not fully saturated with hydrogen
• Glycerol


  3 carbon molecule with an OH group bonded to each carbon, forms ester bonds with fatty acids in triglycerides