Biomolecules

• Biomolecule


  Any molecule that is produced by a living organism and includes large macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids and nucleic acids
• Biomolecules are obtained from food
• Four main types of biomolecules

  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids
  • Lipids
• Carbohydrates


  The primary energy source of our body, which are sugars
• Monomer


  The building block or smaller unit from which larger molecules are made
• Carbohydrate monomers


  • Monosaccharides
  • Disaccharides
  • Polysaccharides
• Monosaccharides


  Simple sugars with the formula C6H12O6, examples are glucose, fructose and galactose
• Disaccharides


  Double sugars formed by combining two monosaccharides, examples are maltose, lactose and sucrose
• Polysaccharides


  Complex sugars formed by chains of monosaccharides, examples are starch, glycogen, cellulose and chitin
• Proteins


  Body building molecules that help us grow, transport molecules, and control chemical reactions
• Protein monomer


  Amino acid
• Protein structure


  rCH(NH2)COOH, where R is a side chain
• Protein sources


  • Soy, egg albumin, hemoglobin, enzymes
• Nucleic acids


  Important components in heredity, present in DNA
• Elements in nucleic acids

  Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus
• Lipids


  Energy storing molecules, provide protection and waterproof covering
• Lipid monomer


  Fatty acid
• Lipid structure


  CH3(CH2)nCOOH, where n is an even number from 2 to 28
• Lipid types


  • Steroids, cholesterol, fats, oils, waxes