BIOMOLECULES

Biomolecules
 Molecules that make 4 Classes of Organic

up living things All

Compounds

Contain Monomers (M)

Carbon (Building Blocks)

(Building
Blocks
Macromolecules

Most biomolecules are

CHO CHONP

 Carbohydrates Nucleic Acids

M=Sugars

organic. starch
es
M=
Nucleotides

cellulose DNA
RNA
glycogen

 Large biomolecules CHO

Lipids Proteins
CHONS

are called
M= M=
Fatty Acids and fats Amino Acids
Glycerol
enzymes
oils

macromolecules. waxes
muscle fibers

cytoskeleton
steroids
1
Types of Biomolecules

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Proteins

Nucleic Acids
Carbohydrates
 C, H, O

 Can be simple
monomers like glucose
(monosaccharide)

 Can be complex
polymers like cellulose
(polysaccharide)
Importance of Carbohydrates
Structural Carbohydrates
 Chitin – arthropod exoskeleton and fungal cell wall
Protein
 C, H, O, N and some
have S

 Amino acids joined

together by peptide
bonds; following a
sequence dictated by
the DNA
Amino Acids
Protein Folding Shape
 Shape of protein determines:
 Interaction with other molecules
 Particular function
Importance of Proteins
 Enzymes/Catalyst -
lipase
 Regulation - hormones
 Structural - keratin
 Transport -
hemoglobin
 Immunity - antibodies
 Secondary energy
source
(gluconeogenesis)
Lipids
 C, H, O

 Groups of organic molecules that are insoluble in

water.

 Chemical formula vary considerably.

 Most are composed of a glycerol molecule with

attached fatty acids.
Lipids
 Fats
 Oils
 Waxes
 Phospholipids
 Steroids: sex hormones and cholesterol
 Some vitamins
 Glycolipids (lipids with carbohydrates attached)
Saturated Fats

 No double bonds
between carbon atoms

 Usually from animal

sources

 Solid at room
temperature (28°C)
Unsaturated Fats
 Double bonded
carbon atoms

 Curved shape

 From plant sources

 Liquid at room
temperature (28°C)
Importance of Lipids
 Energy storage
 Important structural
component of
membranes
 Shock absorber and
insulator
 Water proofing of
some surfaces
 Hormones
Hormones
 Cortisol – stress hormone

 Estradiol – principal female sex hormone produced

in the ovary; responsible for secondary female sex
characteristics

 Testosterone – male sex hormone synthesized in the

testes; responsible for secondary male sex
characteristics
Nucleic Acids
 C, H, O, P, N

 Deoxyribonucleic Acid
(DNA)
 Encodes information used
to assemble proteins

 Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

 Reads DNA-encoded
information to direct
protein synthesis
 Messenger, ribosomal or
transfer RNA
Nucleic Acids Components
 Nucleotide:
 Sugar
(deoxyribose/ribose)
 Phosphate

 Nitrogenous base:
 Purine: adenine and
guanine
 Pyrimidine: cytosine,
thymine/uracil
Nucleic Acids to Proteins
FIN