Believe it or not, many concepts in biology are based on 4 simple molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. However, many people struggle to understand the function, composition, and components of these molecules.
Don't worry, it's not another article full of boring science lingo! We've decided to give you a TL;DR of what macromolecules are all about.
But, if you really don't feel like reading, check out our YouTube video that encompasses the basics of macromolecules in 3 minutes!
1) What are macromolecules?
Macromolecules, also called organic compounds, are made of carbon
Includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Every macromolecule has a monomer (think of a Lego piece)
Every macromolecule has a polymer made of many monomers (think of a chain of Lego pieces)
2) How do we make or break macromolecules?
Dehydration Synthesis: removing water from monomers to build polymers.
Dehydration = remove water; Synthesis = build, put together
Hydrolysis: adding water to break polymers into monomers.
Hydro = water; Lysis = break/destroy
3) Carbohydrates
Found in foods such as bread & pasta
Provide short-term energy
Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
Monomers: monosaccharides (simple sugars like glucose & fructose)
Polymers: disaccharides & polysaccharides
Disaccharides - two simple sugars linked together (glucose + fructose = sucrose)
Polysaccharides - starch & glycogen (energy storage), cellulose (makes up cell wall), and chitin
4) Lipids
Provide long-term energy, make up hormones & cell membrane.
Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
Monomers: fatty acids & glycerol
Polymers: fats, oils, cholesterol, & phospholipids (commonly found in the cell membrane)
Example of Polymer: Triglyceride (3 fatty acid tails attached to the backbone of glycerol)
Fats & Oils have two main types of fatty acids: saturated & unsaturated
Saturated - single bonds only; harder to digest; tightly packed; solid at room temperature
Unsaturated - double carbon bonds & single bonds; easier to digest; less packed; liquid at room temperature
(Double lines in the drawing represent double bonds)
5) Nucleic Acids
Genetic Blueprint
Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
Monomers: Nucleotides (made of a sugar, nitrogen base, & phosphate group)
Polymers: DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) & RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
DNA - instructions to make protein (direction in a cookbook)
RNA - carries instructions to the ribosomes (protein-construction factory) to make protein
6) Proteins
Catalysts (speed up reactions), immunity, & transporting genetic materials
Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur
Monomers: amino acids
Amino acids - 20 different types; linked by peptide bonds; differ in R-groups
Polymers: Proteins (i.e. enzymes, antibodies, keratin [nails])
Enzymes: help to decrease activation energy, meaning that reactions will be sped up!
See, I told you! This list encompasses the basics of each macromolecule. Of course, there are many more examples of polymers and monomers out there, but I've listed the most important ones you need to know! That's all for now. . .until next time!
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