Yt video biomolecules

• Monomers


  Smaller units from which larger molecules are made
• Polymers


  Larger molecules made from a few hundred to a few thousand monomers joined together
• Four main types of polymers

  • Carbohydrates
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids
• Carbohydrates


  Organic compounds that provide energy and structure for living things
• Lipids


  Fatty compounds that provide energy and form cell membranes
• Proteins


  Macromolecules that perform a wide range of functions in cells, including acting as enzymes, hormones and carriers
• Nucleic acids


  Biopolymers that have the ability to encode, store and propagate genetic information
• Monosaccharide


  The simplest unit of carbohydrates
• Monosaccharides

  • Have the general molecular formula CH2O
  • Can be trios (3 carbon), pentose (5 carbon) or hexose (6 carbon)
  • Have a carbonyl group and multiple hydroxyl groups attached to the carbon skeleton
  • Carbonyl group at the terminal carbon is classified as aldose, carbonyl group within the chain is classified as ketose
• Glucose


  The most common and important monosaccharide, with the molecular formula C6H12O6
• Galactose and fructose


  Isomers of glucose
• Disaccharide


  Carbohydrates made from two monosaccharide subunits joined together by dehydration synthesis
• Polysaccharide


  Carbohydrates made from a few hundred to a few thousand monosaccharide subunits linked together by glycosidic bonds
• Types of polysaccharides


  • Storage polysaccharides (e.g. starch, glycogen)
  • Structural polysaccharides (e.g. cellulose, chitin)
• Starch


  The main storage polysaccharide in plants, made up of amylose (unbranched) and amylopectin (branched) subunits
• Cellulose


  The main structural polysaccharide in plants, made up of glucose monomers linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds
• Chitin


  The main structural polysaccharide in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi, similar to cellulose but with a nitrogen-containing group on the second carbon
• Carbohydrates


  An important macronutrient used by the body for energy, particularly in the brain and muscles
• Whole, unprocessed carbohydrates


  Provide essential nutrients, fiber and sustained energy
• Refined, processed carbohydrates


  Can lead to spikes in blood sugar, weight gain, insulin resistance and increased risk of chronic diseases
• Lipids


  Hydrophobic molecules not considered true polymers, made up of different subunits or monomers
• Three main types of lipids

  • Triglycerides
  • Phospholipids
  • Steroids
• Triglycerides


  Also known as fats, made up of glycerol and three fatty acid chains
• Saturated fats


  Have maximum carbon-carbon single bonds, solid at room temperature
• Unsaturated fats


  Have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds, liquid at room temperature
• Hydrogenation


  Process to convert unsaturated fats to saturated fats
• Functions of triglycerides


  • Store unused calories and provide energy
  • Insulate vital organs and body
  • Help determine risk of heart disease
• High triglyceride levels


  Increase risk of atherosclerosis
• Phospholipids


  Major component of cell membranes, have a polar hydrophilic head and nonpolar hydrophobic tails
• Functions of phospholipids


  • Regulate cell membrane permeability
  • Aid in fat absorption and transport
  • Facilitate electron transport in mitochondria
  • Prevent fat accumulation in liver
  • Structural components of cell membranes
• Steroids


  Lipids with a characteristic four-ring molecular structure, precursors for hormones
• Functions of steroids


  • Involved in growth, development, sexual differentiation and reproduction
  • Act as signaling molecules
  • Reduce inflammation
• High steroid use


  Can lead to negative health impacts like heart attacks, strokes, liver tumors, kidney failure, blood clots, and cancer
• Proteins


  Macromolecules made up of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, perform a wide range of functions
• Structure of proteins


  • Primary (linear sequence of amino acids)
  • Secondary (coils and folds from hydrogen bonding)
  • Tertiary (overall 3D shape from interactions of side chains)
  • Quaternary (multiple polypeptide chains)
• Nucleic acids


  Biomolecules responsible for storing and expressing genetic information, composed of nucleotides
• Main types of nucleic acids

  • DNA
  • RNA
• Functions of nucleic acids


  • Store and express genomic information
• Abnormal buildup of proteins in the brain

  Can lead to Alzheimer's disease
• Alzheimer's disease involves a decrease in neurotransmitters like acetylcholine, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline