Download Macromolecules Reading Assingment

Let’s investigate each
macromolecule in more detail
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. This
means that for every 1 carbon atom, there are 2
hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. Sugars and
starches are both types of carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates can be broken down to produce a fast
source of energy for cells. Remember, all living
organisms have to obtain and use energy.
Carbohydrates provide that fast-acting energy for
living organisms, making them essential for survival.
Examples of carbohydrates include grains, pastas,
breads, candy, and cookies.
Glucose is a six-carbon
sugar. It is often
represented by a
hexagon. Each point
on the hexagon
represents a carbon
(except the point that
has an O (oxygen).
Carbohydrates, in general, are often referred to as
saccharides. Saccharides are sugars. Remember the term monomer?
Monomers are like building blocks that come together to form polymers.
The monomers for carbohydrates are monosaccharides (one sugar). When
these monosaccharides come together, they form polysaccharides (many
sugars).
monomer
polymer
monosaccharide
(fructose)
polysaccharide
Highlight the function of carbohydrates as
well as details about their structure. (What
are they made of?)
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Lipids
Lipids are molecules that include fats, oils, waxes,
and cholesterol. Lipids are nonpolar, so they do
not dissolve in water. Like carbohydrates, lipids are
made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Some lipids are broken down and used as energy
in the cells. This energy is used differently by the cell than the energy found
in carbohydrates. The energy that is created from lipids is a long-term
energy source for living organisms. Not only do lipids serve as an energy
source for the cell, but lipids also serve as great insulation for many
organisms, like seals. Other lipids form part of the cell’s structure. (We will
dig more into this in a later lesson.)
fatty acid
fatty acid
fatty acid
Fats and lipids are made of monomers
called fatty acids. Fatty acids are chains of
carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
In many lipids, the fatty acid chains are
attached on one end to another molecule
called glycerol. These fats are known as
triglycerides. These types of fats are found
in butter, oil, and cholesterol.
In other types of lipids, the fatty
acid chains are attached to a
phosphate and glycerol head.
These types of fats are known as
phospholipids and make up the cell
membrane.
phospholipid
phosphate
group
glycerol
glycerol
triglyceride
fatty acid
fatty acid
Some types of fatty acids are healthy for the body, such as unsaturated
fats (fats that are liquid at room temperature). Other fats, saturated fats,
are considered “bad” fats. These are fats that are solid at room
temperature, like butter.
Color the fatty acids (blue), glycerols
(orange), and the phosphate group (red).
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Proteins
Proteins are the most varied of the
carbon-based molecules in organisms.
They are comprised of carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
There are many different types of proteins and proteins are essential for
life. For example, around 20% of our body is made up of proteins. Every cell
in our body uses proteins to perform functions. For example, some
proteins such as enzymes serve as catalysts, to assist in chemical reactions
of the cell. Other proteins are responsible for structure and support,
defense, and transport.
A protein is a polymer made of monomers
called amino acids. Amino acids are
molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur).
Organisms use 20 different amino acids to
build different types of proteins. Although
there are many different amino acids, they
all have a similarities in their structure.
The image above is
depicting a protein that
consists of more than one
amino acid chain.
Examples of proteins
include meats, nuts,
beans, and enzymes.
Amino acids are held
together by peptide bonds.
Highlight the functions of proteins, as well
as information about their structure.
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5
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, and phosphorus. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are
polymers that are made of monomers called nucleotides. A nucleotide is
comprised of 3 parts: a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
Nucleic acids contain the instruction to build proteins.
Nucleic acids are different from the
other macromolecules discussed.
Carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
have many different functions,
whereas nucleic acids only have
one - to code for proteins.
Vocabulary Review
Match each term with its appropriate definition.
1. ____monomer
2. ____polymer
3. ____carbohydrate
4. ____fatty acid
5. ____protein
6. ____amino acid
7. ____lipid
8. ____nucleotide
9. ____nucleic acid
10. ____ peptide bond
a. the bond that holds amino acids together
b. a smaller part of a larger molecule;
subunit
c. made of DNA and RNA
d. a large molecule comprised of smaller
monomers
e. the monomer of a nucleic acid
f. made of C, H, and O and includes starches
and sugars
g. made of C, H, and O and includes waxes,
oils, and cholesterol.
h. molecules that contain C, H, O, and N
i. a polymer that is comprised of amino
acids
j. chains of carbon atoms bonded to
hydrogen atoms (found in lipids)
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