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Exploring Macromolecules: Carbon, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins & Nucleic Acids

Learn about the role of carbon in macromolecules, the structure of essential compounds like carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Dive into the key elements, functions, and monomers of these biological molecules.

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Exploring Macromolecules: Carbon, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins & Nucleic Acids

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  1. Macromolecules

  2. Carbon • Carbon is a component of almost all biological macromolecules. • Carbon has four valence electrons and thus, four spaces to create covalent bonds • 8 (for the octet rule)-4 valence electrons=4 spaces for bonding. • Organic compounds are compounds containing carbon.

  3. Macromolecules • Carbon atoms are joined together to form macromolecules. • Macromolecules: large organic molecules formed by joining smaller organic molecules together • Also called polymers: molecules made from repeating units of “monomers” linked together. Monomers are small subunits of macromolecules. Think of them as the building blocks of polymers.

  4. Carbohydrates • Elements present: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen • Ratio of elements: 1 oxygen and 2 hydrogen for ever 1 carbon. • Used for: energy storage and structural support • Monomer: Monosaccharaides, sugars 3-7 (CH2O) molecules in a chain. • Ex. Glucose

  5. Carbohydrates Cont. • Two monosaccharides joined together form a disaccharide, such as sucrose. • Longer carbohydrate molecules are called polysaccharides, like glycogen.

  6. Lipids • A group of chemicals that includes fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, steroids, and sterols (steroid + alcohols). • Elements present: Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and phosphorus • Monomer: no real monomer per se, as there are no repeating units. However lipids are made up of fatty acids. • Purpose: Store large amounts of energy long term; form boundaries around cells

  7. Lipid Chemical Structure • Amphipathic: two parts(one end polar, the other not) • Hydrophillic (water loving/polar) acid head • Hydrophobic (water fearing/non-polar) hydrocarbon tail

  8. Lipids • Saturated Fats • Lipids with only single bonds between carbon atoms. • No more hydrogen can bond to the tail • Unsaturated Fats • Lipids with at least one carbon to carbon double bond. • Can accommodate more hydrogen.

  9. Proteins • Elements present: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur • Uses: structural components of animals, control molecules (enzymes), transport and messenger molecules • Monomer: amino acids

  10. Protein Function • Function: • many, many functions • hormones • signals from one body system to another • insulin • movement • muscle • immune system • protect against germs • enzymes • help chemical reactions

  11. Amino Acids • Amino acids: protein monomer • Consists of: carboxyl group, amine/amino group, central carbon and a variable side chain (sometimes represented as R)

  12. amino acid amino acid amino acid amino acid amino acid Amino Acids • Amino acids chain together into polymers. • Some are hydrophobic • Some are hydrophilic

  13. Examples

  14. Shape Matters • Hydrophilic proteins are attracted to water in the cell and fold out, hydrophobic molecules fold away from water

  15. Shape Cont. • As a result of this and also hydrogen bonds between each other, proteins fold. • Shape of a protein determines its job pepsin hemoglobin

  16. Nucleic Acids • Large complex molecules that contain hereditary or inherited information. • Elements present: Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus • Uses: Carry hereditary information; used to make proteins • Monomer: nucleotides

  17. Nucleic Acids Cont. • Nucleotides • Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine in DNA • In RNA, Thymine is replaced by Uracil

  18. Structure • Sugar-Phosphate back bone

  19. DNA v. RNA • DNA: double helix • RNA: Single strand

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