WOW Macromolecules
Polymers.
• What do all
macromolecules
have in common?
1. They all contain
Carbon
1. Has 4 valence electrons
What do all
macromolecules
have in common?
What is a polymer?
How are polymers
assembled?
2. They are all polymers
– A polymer is a long
molecule consisting of
many similar building
blocks called
monomers
3. They are all assembled by a
Dehydration reaction
(Condensation).
Dehydration (Condensation)
Reaction
HO
1
3
2
H
Unlinked monomer
Short polymer
Dehydration removes a water
molecule, forming a new bond
HO
Figure5.2A
1
2
H
HO
3
H2O
4
H
Longer polymer
(a) Dehydration reaction in the synthesis of a polymer
• Polymers are disassembled by
– Hydrolysis
HO
1
2
3
4
Hydrolysis adds a water
molecule, breaking a bond
HO
Figure 5.2B
1
2
3
(b) Hydrolysis of a polymer
H
H2O
H
HO
H
1. Carbohydrates- polysaccharide
Examples in the cell
Starch- plants storage sugar
Cellulose plant cell wall
Chitinexoskeleton of
insects
Glycogen- how the body
stores sugar
Carbohydrates
• Monomer =
Monosaccharide
(simple sugar)
• Type of bond =
glycosidic linkage
• Function:
– Storage and structural
support
2. Lipids
Examples in the cell
Fats- lipids in animals
Oils – Lipids in plants
Phospholipids -make up cell
membrane
Steroids –Hormones in the
cell.
Lipids
• Monomer = Fatty acid
tail
Ester linkage
• Type of bond = ester
linkage
• Function:
– Energy storage
– Protection
3. Proteins
• Proteins - more than 50% of
dry mass of cells
• Functions include:
–
–
–
–
–
Enzymes
Structural
Storage
Transport
Hormonal (cellular
communication)
– Receptor
– Contractile (movement)
– Defensive
Proteins in mouse cells
Animation: Protein Functions
Proteins
Examples in the cell
Enzymes- speed up chemical
reactions
Proteins
• Monomer = Amino
Acid
• Type of bond =
Peptide Bond
• Function:
– Diverse and many
LE 5-20a
Proteins
level of
structure
1. Primary
Amino end
Amino acid
subunits
Carboxyl end
LE 5-20b
Proteins level of structure
2. Secondary
b pleated sheet
Amino acid
subunits
 helix
LE 5-20d
Proteins level
of structure
3. Tertiary
Hydrophobic
interactions and
van der Waals
interactions
Polypeptide
backbone
Hydrogen
bond
Disulfide bridge
Ionic bond
LE 5-20e
Proteins level
of structure
4. Quaternary
Polypeptide
chain
b Chains
Iron
Heme
Polypeptide chain
Collagen
 Chains
Hemoglobin
4. Nucleic Acids
Examples in the cell
DNA stores genetic
information
RNA – Carries genetic
code to cell.
Nucleic Acids
• Monomer =
Nucleotide
• Type of bond =
Covalent and
Hydrogen bond
between bases
• Function:
– Store genetic
information