Biomolecules

• Categories of biomolecules

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids
• Carbohydrates


  Molecules made from aldehydes and ketones, mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms in an approximate ratio of one carbon to two hydrogen to one oxygen (CH2O)
• Types of carbohydrates

  • Monosaccharides
  • Disaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
• Monosaccharides


  Composed of a single unit of carbohydrates
• Monosaccharides


  • Glucose
  • Fructose
• Disaccharides


  Consist of two monosaccharides that are chemically combined
• Polysaccharides


  Polymers containing numerous monosaccharide monomers
• Lipids

  A large and diverse group of naturally occurring biomolecules that are water insoluble and composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
• Types of lipids

  • Triglycerides
  • Phospholipids
  • Cholesterol
• Triglycerides


  Consist of a glycerol "backbone" to which three fatty acids are attached
• Phospholipids


  Similar to triglycerides, except with one of the three fatty acids replaced with a phosphate group to which other highly polar (aka hydrophilic, water-loving) entities are attached
• Cholesterol


  Contains various hydrocarbon ring structures
• Proteins


  Polypeptides composed of long chains of amino acids connected by peptide bonds
• Amino acids


  The building blocks of protein
• Types of amino acids

  • Essential amino acids
  • Non-essential amino acids
• Essential amino acids


  Must be obtained in the diet
• Non-essential amino acids


  Can be synthesized in the body
• Nucleic acids


  Polymers consisting of long chains of nucleotides
• Nucleotide


  Organic molecules that are the building block of DNA and RNA, composed of a five carbon sugar, nitrogen containing base and phosphate group
• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)


  A double-helix molecule composed of a deoxyribose, phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases such as adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine
• RNA (ribonucleic acid)


  A single-stranded molecule composed of ribose sugar, phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases such as adenine, uracil, cytosine and guanine
• Biomolecules are organic molecules produced by living organisms which consist mainly of elements of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N)
• Functions of carbohydrates


  • Energy production
  • Energy storage
  • Building macromolecules
  • Sparing protein
  • Assisting in lipid metabolism
• Functions of lipids


  • Serve as structural components of cell membranes
  • Function as energy storehouses
  • Function as important signaling molecules
• Functions of proteins


  • Acting as enzymes and hormones
  • Providing for fluid and acid-base balance
  • Transport, protection, wound healing and tissue regeneration
  • Energy production
• DNA contains the genetic instruction of all modern organisms
• deoxyribose - the sugar in DNA
• ribose - the sugar in RNA
• Proteins - are an important component of the living system because these are the molecules that help build tissues and repair damage
• Which of the following elements is not present in carbohydrates? Nitrogen
• Jane has curly hair which she inherited from her father. Which biomolecule is responsible for this? DNA
• Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not in DNA? Uracil
• It refers to a large and diverse group of naturally occurring biomolecules that are water insoluble.

  Lipids
• It is the most abundant class of biomolecules.

  Carbohydrates