Biological
Macromolecules
About Macromolecules
• Macro = big
• Polymer = another word for macromolecule
• Monomer = small molecules that make up
polymers (subunit)
Polymer =
monomer – monomer – monomer - monomer
Lipids
• Examples: fats and oils
• Subunit: fatty acids
• Functions:
– energy storage
– insulation
– waxy coatings
– cell membranes
Lipids (cont.)
• Structure – long carbon chain with many
hydrogen atoms
Lipids (cont.)
• Other info:
– Can be saturated or unsaturated
– Not soluble in water (“hydrophobic”)
• Test: Brown paper bag test
Proteins
• Subunit: amino acids
• Functions:
– Cell and tissue structure (ex. muscle)
– Chemical reactions in body
• SHAPE determines FUNCTION!
Examples:
• Insulin – lowers blood sugar (highnormal)
• Glucagon – raises blood sugar (lownormal)
• Hemoglobin – carries oxygen in blood to cells
Proteins (cont.)
• Structure:
– Chains of amino acids joined by PEPTIDE BONDS
– Chains fold into specific shapes
Proteins (cont.)
• Test: Biuret solution
Carbohydrates
• Subunit = sugars
• Function (what it is used for)= ENERGY
• Types:
– Monosaccharides – “one sugar” – ex. glucose
– Disaccharides – “two sugars” – ex. sucrose
– Polysaccharides – “many sugars” – ex. starch
Carbohydrates (cont.)
• Structure – rings or chains of rings
glucose
sucrose
starch
Carbohydrates (cont.)
• Tests:
– Benedict’s solution for monosaccharides
– Iodine for starch
Nucleic Acids
• Subunit: nucleotide
• Function: storing and transferring genetic
information
• Examples:
– DNA
– RNA
Nucleic Acids (cont.)
• Structure: one or two strands of nucleotides
Nucleotide
DNA