TEAS SCIENCE 15 - MACROMOLECULES - Nurse Cheung · 2019. 2. 24. · 2/21/19 1 ATI TEAS SCIENCE REVIEW MACROMOLECULES ATI TEAS SCIENCE –MACROMOLECULES Questions related to the macromoleculeswill

2/21/19

1

ATI TEAS SCIENCE REVIEW

MACROMOLECULES

ATI TEAS SCIENCE – MACROMOLECULES

Questions related to the macromolecules will test your familiarity of the four types of molecules. As the applicant, you will need to demonstrate understanding of how proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids function. Let’s get started in understanding how macromolecules are important on the ATI TEAS.


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES

Macromolecules are very large molecules. Most are formed when organic molecules, also known as monomers, combine with covalent bonds during dehydration reactions to form biological polymers. Most of the macromolecules are groups of the same monomer or similar monomers linked together over and over.

There are four types of macromolecules

• Proteins

• Carbohydrates

• Lipids

• Nucleic acids

These macromolecules are the food groups needed by the body and can be broken down by hydrolysis (chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water) during digestion for use by the body’s cells.


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES - PROTEINS

Proteins are long chains of amino acid monomers. The long chains arecalled polypeptides and they sometimes fold over to form three-

dimensional shapes. Different shapes have different functions.

Of the 20 primary amino acids, only 11 of these can be produced by thebody itself. The remaining 9 must be obtained through the diet. These 9

amino acids are known as essential amino acids. They can be found inprotein sources such as meat, eggs, fish, and some plant sources.

PHOTO CREDIT: HOLE HOUSE



Enzymes are a vital class of proteins that catalyze chemical reactions.Without enzymes, life would not exist. They are essential forbiosynthesis and perform many functions in the digestive system. Thereare two categories of enzymes: catabolic enzymes, which break downtheir substrate, and anabolic enzymes, which use their substrate tobuild more complex molecules.

PHOTO CREDIT: CERTIFICATE BIOLOGY



Hormones are another class of proteins with which you should befamiliar. Hormones are signaling molecules produced by glands inendocrine system. They are transported by the circulatory system toorgans throughout the body to regulate physiology and behavior.

PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIHOW

2/21/19

2



FUNCTION OF PROTEINS

Proteins have many vital functions within the body, such as:

• Proteins catalyze chemical reactions

• Proteins synthesize and repair DNA

• Proteins provide structural support

• Proteins transport materials across the cell

• Proteins respond to stimuli

• Proteins send and receive chemical signals


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES - CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates molecules form with a ratio of carbon to hydrogen tooxygen 1:2:1. They can be classified into three subtypes:

• Monosaccharide is a simple sugar, with only 3-7 carbon atoms.Glucose, fructose, and galactose are common monosaccharides.

• Disaccharide forms when two monosaccharides bond. Sucrose,lactose, and maltose are common disaccharides.

• Polysaccharide is a long chain of monosaccharides. Glycogen,cellulose, and starch are common polysaccharides.

PHOTO CREDIT: ESCHOOLTODAY



FUNCTION OF CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are the body’s source of quick fuel because they breakdown faster in the body than proteins and fats. Carbohydrates covert tosugar, or glucose, which is a ready source of fuel. Simple carbohydrates,such as cane sugar, break down fastest when consumed. Complexcarbohydrates, such as grains and starchy vegetables, breaks downmore slowly than simple carbohydrates and turn into sugar less quicklyin the bloodstream.



Fiber is a component found in carbohydrates that cannot be digestedby the body. Because it does not break down into glucose, fiber addsbulk to the diet and improves the process of transporting foods throughthe digestive system. Adequate fiber intake can also be helpful forcontrolling blood sugar levels.

While some carbohydrates perform energy storage functions, othercarbohydrates perform structural functions. The polysaccharidecellulose performs an important function in plant cells. The rigid cellwall is made up of cellulose. Another polysaccharide, chitin, performsan important function in arthropods: it forms an exoskeleton to protecttheir internal organs. Other carbohydrates, such as glycoproteins, haverecognition functions.

ATI TEAS SCIENCE – MACROMOLECULESUNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES - LIPIDS

Lipids are macromolecules that contain hydrocarbons. They are highlyreduced forms of carbon and when they are metabolized, lipids areoxidized to release large amounts of energy.

Some lipids examples include

• Fats

• Oils

• Waxes

• Sterols

• Fat-soluble vitamins

• Monoglycerides

• Diglycerides

• Triglycerides

• Phospholipids

PHOTO CREDIT: SLIDEPLAYER


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES - LIPIDS

FUNCTION OF LIPIDS

Lipids are efficient source of fuel for the body; once digested, theybreak down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fats take longer to digest thaneither protein or carbohydrates, so they provide the body withsustained energy. Saturated fats are derived mainly from animalsources and tend to raise cholesterol and increase the risk of heartattack and stroke. Unsaturated fats are derived from certainvegetables, fish, and nuts. These fats can lower cholesterol levels,particularly monosaturated fats, such as those found in avocado andolive oil.

Lipids also have signaling functions and act as a major structuralcomponent of cell membranes.

2/21/19

3


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES – NUCLEIC ACIDS

Nucleic acids include deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

DNA is a polymer made from a long string of repeating units called nucleotides. Nearly all DNA molecules consist of two biopolymer strands that are coiled around each other to form a double helix shape. As you probably know, DNA stores biological information and is the hereditary material in all living organisms.

RNA is also a chain of nucleotides, but it usually forms a single strandfolded onto itself, rather than a double-strand like DNA. RNA is mostlyinvolved in protein synthesis. A type of RNA known as messenger RNAcarries copies of the genetic information to ribosomes, where catalyticribosomal RNA molecules and transfer RNA molecules coordinate tomake a functional protein.

PHOTO CREDIT: TECHNOLOGY NETWORK


UNDERSTANDING MACROMOLECULES – NUCLEIC ACIDS

FUNCTION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS

Nucleic acids carry out several cellular processes. They are especiallyinvolved in the regulation and expression of genes.

Documents

TEAS SCIENCE 15 - MACROMOLECULES - Nurse Cheung · 2019. 2. 24. · 2/21/19 1 ATI TEAS SCIENCE REVIEW MACROMOLECULES ATI TEAS SCIENCE –MACROMOLECULES Questions related to the macromoleculeswill