Unit 1B: Biochemistry
Organic Molecules/ Macromolecules
Supplemental Instruction
Iowa State University
Leader:
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Priscila Candal
BIOL 256
Dr. Krumhardt
Week 2
Organic Compounds (contain carbon)
Most organic compounds are large molecules also known as _________________.
Macromolecules are polymers composed of unit molecules known as _____________. In class, macromolecules
were compared to a chain of pearls; each pearl represent the ____________________ and the chain itself
represents the ___________________.
The four macromolecules are _______________, ___________, ________________ and __________ __________.
Starch and cellulose are examples of __________________________; Albumen, found in egg whites, is an example
of the macromolecule _______________. DNA is a type of __________________ that contains the genetic
material. Cholesterol is a type of ________________ found in the cell membranes of animals.
_______________ and ________________ both contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. However ___________
contain less oxygen, making this macromolecule less polar and insoluble in water.
Carbohydrates
There are three types of carbohydrates: _______________, ________________ and __________________.
Monosaccharides
Glucose
Found in
Combine
Glucose + Glucose
Fructose
Fructose
+ Glucose
Galactose
Galactose
+ Glucose
Disaccharide
Found in
__________________ are polymers of simple sugars – usually glucose. _______________ is a form of glucose
storage stored in the liver and skeletal muscles in animals. In plants this storage form of glucose is called ______.
Cellulose is a ______________________ found in the cell walls of plants. We can’t digest this polysaccharides; it
acts as dietary fiber.
Lipids
Lipids contain less ____________ molecules, making them a non-polar molecule.
____________________ or neutral fats are a type of lipid with a _____________ backbone covalently bonded to
________ (number) chains of ___________________.
Fatty acids can be _____________ – solid at room temperature (butter) – or ______________ - liquid at room
temperature (oils). This is due to the presence or absence of double bonds within some carbon atoms.
When triglycerides are broken-down/hydrolyzed, _________________ (not bound to the glycerol backbone)
circulate in the blood. The liver might convert these into _____________________ as a source of energy.
_______________________ are similar to triglycerides – however they only contain _________ fatty acid chains.
They are the main components of cell walls and contain __________________ (atom) and lots of _____________
Supplemental Instruction
1060 Hixson-Lied Student Success Center  294-6624  www.si.iastate.edu
(atom)– which makes up its polar end. Examples of structures or molecules that contain phospholipids are
__________________ and ___________________.
Cholesterol, bile salts and steroid hormones like testosterone are examples of __________. They are lipids contain
no _______________. Bile salts and steroid hormones are modification of cholesterol molecule by the
______________. (organ)
Hormones like prostaglandins are made by _________________ – a type of lipid found in cell membranes that
affect their immediate surrounding and local cells causing a temporary change.
Triglycerides are transported in your blood by ____________________.
Proteins
Proteins and polypeptides are macromolecules composed of _________________ (unit molecule) bond together
by _____________________. The difference between proteins and polypeptide is
Amino Acids - the building blocks of polypeptides and proteins - contain a _________________________, an
__________________, a_________________________ and a variable _____________________. There are ______
different types of amino acids and their difference is due to their __________________.
Protein Structure
__1. Primary
a.
Interaction of hydrogen bonds causing 3D arrangement of polypeptide creating patterns
such as helixes or pleats; determined by the primary sequence.
__2. Secondary
b.
Not all proteins have this level of structure; hemoglobin is an example of a protein with
such an arrangement.
__3. Tertiary
c.
The amino acid sequence determined by the DNA
__4. Quaternary
d.
Interaction of hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces stabilizing the molecule and
giving it its overall shape; classified as fibrous or globular.
_____________ are biological catalyst that works by ______________ the activation energy of a chemical reaction.
Proteins serve as effective buffers by combining with H+ or OH-.
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids are a type of polymer/macromolecule composed of the basic units called ____________. Each of this
unit is composed of a ______________, a ________________ and a ___________________. The two most
common examples of nucleic acids are ____________ and _____________. ATP is also a nucleic acid.
DNA and RNA both contain a pentose sugar. However DNA contains the _______________ while RNA contains
____________. There are other differences between DNA and RNA. One of them is that DNA contains the nitrogen
base _______________ and RNA contains ___________. Another Difference is that DNA is ___________ stranded,
while RNA is ___________ stranded.
There are three types of RNA involved in protein synthesis. ______________ takes the genetic code out of the
cell’s nucleus to the cytoplasm. ____________ brings in the appropriate amino acid to the protein synthesis site
(ribosomes). __________ is molecular component of the ribosome to make protein.
___________ contains the genetic inheritance information (blueprint) and it is translated into _________. RNA
contains the information to code for the ________________ sequence to synthesize proteins.