Macromolecules

• Large molecules in living cells are known as macromolecules --- “giant molecules”

• Macromolecules are made by joining smaller unites called MONOMERS together to for POLYMERS

The process of joining together monomers is known as POLYMERIZATION

4 groups of macromolecules

1.) carbohydrates

2.) lipids

3.) nucleic acids

4.) proteins

Carbohydrates• Made up of carbons, hydrogen and oxygen

atoms in a 1: 2: 1 ratio

• Uses:– Main source of energy– Structural purposes

• Monomers are known as MONOSACCHARIDES

- MONOSACCHARIDES join to form POLYSACCHARIDES

• The monosaccharides for carbs are simple sugars– Ex: Glucose, galactose, fructose

Lipids

• Made mostly from carbon and oxygen atoms– Ex. Fats, oils, waxes

• Uses:– Store Energy– Important factor in cell membranes– Chemical messengers

Lipids contain two parts:

1.) glycerol heads

2.) fatty acid chain tails

• There are two types of lipids1.) Saturated contain only single bonds

Ex. Solid fat

2.) unsaturated contain double bonds

Ex. Liquid fat

Nucleic Acids• Macromolecules containing

hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus

• Monomers are known as nucleotides – Nucleotides join to form nucleic acids

There are three parts to a nucleotide

1.) 5 carbon sugar

2.) Phosphate group

3.) Nitrogen base

• Uses:–Store and transmit hereditary, or

genetic information

–Two types• DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid

• RNA: ribonucleic acid

Protein• Macromolecules that contain nitrogen, carbon,

hydrogen, and oxygen

• Monomers are called amino acids

• Amino acids have an amino group (-NH2) and a carboxyl group (-COOH)

• Uses:–Control the rate of reactions and

regulate cell processes.

–Form bones and muscles

–Transport substance into or out of cells

–Help to fight disease

Protein have 4 levels of organization

• Straight chain

• The amino acids within the chain can be twisted or folded

• The chain can be twisted

• If the protein has more than one chain, each chain is folded separately within the same space

Enzymes• Enzymes are proteins that serve as biological catalysts– A catalyst is a substance

that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

– Enzymes speed up chemical reactions that take place in cells

– Enzymes work by lowering activation energy

Enzymes Work

• Enzymes are substrate specific meaning that the enzyme can only bind with a specific type of molecule

• The enzyme temporarily joins the substrate forming an enzyme-substrate complex– The substrate is broken down into its

products and the enzyme is freed to repeat the process