Download Macromolecules

Macromolecules
September 16th/17th, 2008
• Many of the molecules in
living cells are so large that
they are known as
macromolecules, which
means “giant molecules.”
• Macromolecules are made
from thousands or even
hundreds of thousands of
smaller molecules.
Monomers vs. Polymers
• Macromolecules are formed by a process
known as polymerization, in which large
compounds are built by joining smaller ones
together – like a puzzle.
• The smaller units are called
monomers.
• The larger units they create
are called polymers.
• The four major
groups of
macromolecules
are
carbohydrates,
lipids, nucleic
acids, and
proteins.
Reflection
1. What does macromolecule mean?
2. Use an analogy to explain monomers
and polymers.
3. What is polymerization?
4. What are the four different types of
monomers?
Carbohydrates
• Living things use carbohydrates as their
main source of energy. Carbohydrates are
made up of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen.
• The monomers of
carbohydrates are called
monosaccharides (single
sugars). Glucose is an
example.
• The polymers of carbohydrates are called
polysaccharides (many sugars). Starch and
glycogen are examples.
Lipids
• Lipids can be used to store energy. Some
lipids are important parts of biological
membranes and waterproof coverings (the
cell membrane for example) .
Cell
Membrane
Lipid
• The monomers of lipids are Glycerol and
Fatty Acids.
Nucleic Acids
• Nucleic acids are found
in your DNA and RNA.
They are the molecules
that store and transmit
hereditary, or genetic,
information.
• Nucleic acids contain
hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, carbon, and
phosphorous.
• Nucleic acids are
polymers made up of
individual monomers
known as nucleotides.
• Nucleotides consist of
three parts: a 5-carbon
sugar, a phosphate
group, and a nitrogen
base.
Proteins
• Some proteins help to carry out chemical
reactions and regulate cell processes.
Some are used to form bones and muscle.
Other transport substances into our out
the cells or help to fight disease.
• Proteins are
macromolecules that
contain nitrogen as well
as carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen.
• The monomers of proteins are called
amino acids.
• All amino acids have an amino group
(NH2) at one and, and a carboxyl group
(COOH) on the other end.
• Examples of proteins
are Hemoglobin,
Albumin, Collagen,
and Keratin
Amino
Acids