Download Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules
Chapter 2
STANDARD
SB1.c
Identify the function of the four
major macromolecules (i.e.,
carbohydrates, proteins, lipids,
nucleic acids)
MACROMOLECULES
•means giant molecules
•made from thousands or
even hundreds of thousands
of smaller molecules
Four Major Groups of Macromolecules
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Nucleic Acids
• Proteins
Carbohydrates
• Made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
atoms (ratio of 1:2:1)
• Plants, some animals, and other organisms
use carbohydrates for structural purposes.
• Cellular respiration (breakdown of sugars)
supplies immediate energy for cell activities.
Carbohydrates(simple sugars)
• Single sugar molecules monosaccharides
• Ex: fructose - found in fruits
• Disaccharides - two simple sugars
together.
• Ex: sucrose - table sugar
Carbohydrates(complex sugars)
• Polysaccharides - formed from
monosaccharides
Lipids
• Generally not soluble in water
• Made mostly of carbon and
hydrogen atoms
• Used to store energy
• Important parts of biological
membranes and waterproof
coverings.
• Fats, oils, and waxes
Proteins
• Contain nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen
• Made up of amino acids
• Peptide bonds link amino acids together to
form a polypeptide
• Proteins control the rate of reactions and
regulate cell processes
• Some proteins form cellular structures, and
others transport substances into or out of
cells or help fight diseases
Nucleic Acids
• Composed of hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon, and phosphorus
• Made up of nucleotides(a five carbon
sugar, phosphate group and nitrogen base)
• Store and transmit hereditary, or genetic
information.
• Two kinds of nucleic acids: DNA & RNA