Macromolecules

Organic Compounds• Compounds that contain

CARBON are called organic.–This is different from organic foods

in the grocery store.

Compounds that do not contain CARBON are called inorganic.

Organic Compounds

• Macromolecules are large organic molecules.

• Bio-molecules are the macromolecules of life

Carbon (C)• Carbon has 4 outer

electrons

• Carbon can form covalent bonds with as many as 4 other atoms (elements).

• Usually with C, H, O or N.

• Example: CH4(methane)

Macromolecules• Large organic molecules.

–Also called POLYMERS. (poly = many)

• Made up of smaller “building blocks” called MONOMERS. (mono = one)

• 4 Major Macromolecules/Bio-molecules:

1. Carbohydrates2. Lipids3. Proteins4. Nucleic acids (DNA and

RNA)

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates• Small sugar molecules to large sugar

molecules.• Made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and

Oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.• Building Block:

monosaccharide

Types of CarbsA. monosaccharideB. disaccharideC. polysaccharide

CarbohydratesMonosaccharide: one sugar

unitaka: simple sugars

Examples: glucose (C6H12O6)

deoxyriboseriboseFructoseGalactose

glucose

CarbohydratesDisaccharide: two sugar

unitsExamples:

–Sucrose (glucose + fructose)

–Lactose (glucose + galactose)

–Maltose (glucose + glucose)

glucoseglucose

CarbohydratesPolysaccharide: many sugar

unitsExamples: starch (bread,

potatoes)glycogen (beef

muscle)cellulose

(lettuce, corn)

glucoseglucose

glucoseglucose

glucoseglucose

glucoseglucose

cellulose

Functions of Carbohydrates

Broken down as a source of energy

Part of cell structure

Carbohydrates• Starches: serves as plant energy

storage (think potatoes)– Glucose monomers joined together,

branched

• Glycogen: serves as animal energy storage– Glucose monomers joined together,

straight

• Cellulose: structural component in plants – Cannot be broken down by humans

CarbohydratesPolymer (starch)

Starch is a polymer of glucose monomers that often has a branched structure.

Polymer (cellulose)

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose monomers that has a straight, rigid structure

monomer

Polymer (starch)

Starch is a polymer of glucose monomers that often has a branched structure.

Polymer (cellulose)

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose monomers that has a straight, rigid structure

Polymer (starch)

Starch is a polymer of glucose monomers that often has a branched structure.

Polymer (starch)

Starch is a polymer of glucose monomers that often has a branched structure.

Polymer (cellulose)

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose monomers that has a straight, rigid structure

Polymer (cellulose)

Cellulose is a polymer of glucose monomers that has a straight, rigid structure

monomermonomer

Lipids

LIPIDSBUILDING BLOCK:

FATTY ACIDS AND GLYCEROL

ELEMENTS:C H O (NO RATIO but there will be more C’s and H’s)

FATTY ACID AND GLYCEROL

H

H-C----O

H-C----O

H-C----O

H

glycerol

fatty acid

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

=

Lipids• General term for compounds which

are not soluble in water. (non-polar)

• LIPIDS ARE SOLUBLE IN NONPOLAR SUBSTANCES----DO NOT DISSOLVE IN POLAR SUBSTANCES (OIL/WATER)

• Lipids are soluble in hydrophobic solvents. (phobic=fear, hydro=water)

Examples of LIPIDS1. Fats2. Phospholipids3. Oils4. Waxes

5. Steroid/ Hormones 6. Triglycerides

LipidsTriglycerides:

composed of 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids.

H

H-C----O

H-C----O

H-C----O

H

glycerol

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

=

fatty acids

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

=

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH =CH-CH2 -CH

2 -CH2 -CH

2 -CH3

=

LipidsFive functions of lipids:

1. Long term energy storage2. Protection against heat loss (insulation)3. Protection against water loss4. Chemical messengers (hormones)5. Major component of membranes (phospholipids)

Fatty AcidsThere are two kinds of fatty acids (carbon

chains) you may see on food labels:

1. Saturated fatty acids: no double bonds (bad)

2. Unsaturated fatty acids: double bonds (good)

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

=

saturated

O

C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH=CH-CH2 -CH

2-CH2 -CH

2 -CH3

=

unsaturated

Solid fats!

Liquid oils!

Proteins

Proteins (Polypeptides)

Basic building block= Amino Acid• There are 20 amino acids (your body

makes 12 amino acids)

Made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Sulfur

Proteins (Polypeptides)Amino Acids

• Made of carbon bonded to a carboxyl group (-), an amine group (+), a hydrogen, and an R-group.

• Variation between amino acids comes from different R-groups.

• Amino Acids are linked together by peptide bonds.

Proteins (Polypeptides)• Six functions and examples of

proteins:1. Storage: albumin (egg white)2. Transport: hemoglobin (blood)3. Regulatory:hormones4. Movement: muscles5. Structural: membranes, hair, nails6. Enzymes: cellular reactions

Protein: Primary Structure

Amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds (straight chains)

aa1 aa2 aa3 aa4 aa5 aa6

Peptide Bonds

Amino Acids (aa)

Protein: Secondary Structure

• 3-dimensional folding arrangement of a primary structure into coils and pleats held together by hydrogen bonds.

• Two examples:

Alpha Helix

Beta Pleated Sheet

Hydrogen Bonds

Protein: Tertiary Structure

• Secondary structures bent and folded into a more complex 3-D arrangement of linked polypeptides

• Bonds: H-bonds, ionic, covalent

Alpha Helix

Beta Pleated Sheet

Protein: Quaternary Structure

• Composed of 2 or more “subunits”

• Example: enzymes

subunits

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids

Building Block: Nucleotides

ELEMENTS: C H O N P

Nucleic acids• Nucleotides include:

phosphate groupsugar

DNA: deoxyriboseRNA: ribose

nitrogenous bases

Nucleotide

OO=P-O O

Phosphate Group

NNitrogenous base

CH2

O

C1C4

C3 C2

5

Sugar(deoxyribose)

Nucleic acids• Two types:

a. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA- double helix)

**stores genetic information** b. Ribonucleic acid (RNA-single strand)

**builds proteins**

DNA - double helix

P

P

P

O

O

O

1

23

4

5

5

3

3

5

P

P

PO

O

O

1

2 3

4

5

5

3

5

3

G C

T A