Macromolecules
Unit 1: Scientific Method
& Chemistry
Chapter: 2-3
Standards

1) The fundamental life processes
of plants and animals depend on a
variety of chemical reactions that
occur in specialized areas of the
organism’s cells. As a basis for
understanding this concept:
 h)
Students know most
macromolecules (polysaccharides,
nucleic acids, proteins, lipids) in cells
and organisms are synthesized from a
small collection of simple precursors.
Chemistry of Life

All living things are made up of 4
main elements:
 Carbon,
Nitrogen, Oxygen, &
Hydrogen
Organic molecules have carbon
 Inorganic molecules do not have

carbon
 Ex:
Water H20
Macromolecules

“Big Molecules” made of many
smaller molecules
 Monomer:
small molecule
 Polymer: larger molecule made up of
monomers
 Polymerization: process that joins
monomers together to make a
polymer
Monomer
Polymerization
Polymer
Example: Legos

Monomer = 1 lego

Polymer = many legos connected
together
Types of Macromolecules
1. Carbohydrates
 2. Lipids
 3. Nucleic Acids
 4. Proteins

1. Carbohydrates
Use: Main energy source for cells
 Monomer: Monosaccharide

 One


sugar
Ex: glucose
fructose
galactose
Polymer: Polysaccharides
 Big
carbohydrate molecules made of
many monosaccharides joined together



Ex: glycogen (animals)
Ex: starch (plants)
Food Source: plants, pasta, bread, sugar
2. Lipids

Use:



Long term energy storage (fat, oil)
Chemical messengers (steroids &
cholesterol)
Cell membrane (phospholipids)

Monomers: Lipids are made of a fatty
acid chain & a glycerol head

Polymer: Lipids &
triglyceride
More about the monomer:

Fatty acid chains can be:
1. Saturated: all single bonds, solid
at room temp, found in animals
(“bad” fat)
2. Unsaturated: one or more double
bonds, liquid at room temp, called
oils (“good” fat)
Which is unsaturated?

A

B

C
More About the Polymer:
Lipids

2 Types of Lipids
 1. Sterols: chemical messengers

 2.
Ex: Cholesterol; Hormones (testosterone &
estrogen)
Phospholipids: make up cell
membranes
Glycerol Head
(with phosphate group)
Hydrophilic: likes water
2 Fatty Acid Chains
Hydrophobic:
“fears” water
Food Source: fats, oils, grease
3. Nucleic Acids


Use: store & transmit genetic information
Monomers: Nucleic acids are made of
nucleotides.

Nucleotides are composed of a:

Sugar: ribose or deoxyribose

Phosphate Group

Nitrogenous base



Polymers: DNA & RNA



Adenine (A), Thymine (T)
Guanine (G), Cytosine (C), Uracil (U)
DNA uses bases A,T,C,G & has 2 strands
RNA uses bases A,U,C,G & has 1 strand
Food sources: all plant & animal foods
4. Proteins

Use: carry out gene expression





Structure - found in hair, horns, spider’s silk
Transport – moving material
Defense - antibodies
Enzymes – helping chemical reactions
Monomers: Proteins are made of
amino acids
 Joined together by peptide bonds
 20 different amino acids
 They join together and fold to make
protein

Polymer: Polypeptide or Enzyme
a
POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN:
Amino Acids
Peptide Bond

Protein shape determines its function
 Enzymes are proteins that control the
rate of a reaction

Central Dogma Rule: genetic information
is transferred from:
DNA
RNA
Food sources: Meat, dairy products, beans
Protein
Protein Folding
Pop-quiz

1. The monomer of this group is a
monosaccharide.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

2. This group contains molecules
that make up the cell membrane.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

3. Enzymes belong to this group.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

4. This group contains genetic
information and can be found in the
nucleus of a cell.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

5. This group carries out gene
expression (structure, transport,
defense, enzymes).

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

6. This group is the main source of
energy for all cells and, in plants, it
is stored as starch.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

7. This group is made up of the
monomers: fatty acid chain and
glycerol head.

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein

8. Macromolecules in cells are
created from

ANSWERS:
 A)
groups of cells
substances
 C) small molecules
B) toxic
D) one element

9. Macromolecules are also known
as

ANSWERS:
 A)
Polymers
 C) micromolecules
B) Monomers
D) Nucleotides

10. Many amino acids bond
together to form which polymer?

ANSWERS:
 A)
Carbohydrate
 C) Nucleic Acid
B) Lipid
D) Protein