macromolecules notes basic with vocab

Notes Booklet

MACROMOLECULES

VOCABULARY

•Record the following

terms on back of your

notes flip booklet

MONOMER

• A small molecule that can combine

with other molecules to form polymers

• A single subunit

• A building block of polymers

POLYMER

• A large molecule that consists of repeating,

linked subunits called monomers

• Macromolecules

FUNCTIONAL GROUP

• Clusters or groups of atoms that occur

together within larger molecules

• Influence the properties of the larger

molecules of which they are a part

• Active in chemical reactions

• Table of functional groups (4 examples)

KEY CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF BIOMOLECULES

1.Dehydration Synthesis

• Monomers are connected by this reaction in which two molecules are covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a water molecule.

• Each monomer contributes part of the water:

-OH + -H

aka. Condensation

KEY CHEMICAL REACTIONS OF BIOMOLECULES

2.Hydrolysis

• Molecules made of 2 or more monomers are broken apart by the addition of water.

• “hydro” = water

• “lysis” = to split

• “hydrolysis” = to split with water

MACROMOLECULES BASICS

•Record the following

information on the

FRONT panels of your

notes booklet.

• Subunits: monosaccharides

• Elements present: C, H, O with

the ratio of H:O ≈ 2:1 (H2O)

• Examples:

• simple sugars (glucose,

fructose, sucrose)

• Starch

• Cellulose

• Disaccharides,

polysaccharides

• Functions in the body:

• Energy source (fuel)

• Structure (building

material)

• Cell membrane

receptors

(glycoproteins)

GROUP I: CARBOHYDRATES

• Subunits: glycerol, fatty acids,

sterols

• Elements present: C, H, O with the

ratio of H : O > 2:1 (much, much

more H than O!); sometimes P

• Examples:

• phospholipids, fats (saturated,

unsaturated), waxes, oils,

steroids, some pigments

• Monoglycerides, diglycerides,

triglycerides

• Functions in the body:

• Energy source (fuel)

• Store energy

• Structural

• Protection

• Cell signaling

GROUP II: LIPIDS

• Subunits: amino acids

• Elements present: C, H, O, N

(sometimes S)

• Examples:

• Peptides, dipeptides,

polypeptides

• Enzymes

• Hemoglobin

• 21 amino acids in the body

• Functions in the body:

• Speed up chemical

reactions,

• Support

• Transport

• Communication

• Movement

• Protection

GROUP III: PROTEINS

• Subunits: nucleotides

• Elements present: C, H, O, N, P

• Examples:

• DNA

• RNA: mRNA, rRNA, tRNA

• Functions in the body:

• Store and transmit

information

• Genetic information

• Genetic code

GROUP IV: NUCLEIC ACIDS

MACROMOLECULES DETAILS

•Record the following

notes INSIDE your notes

booklet under the

appropriate flap.

CARBOHYDRATES

1. Biological Importance

• Very abundant in nature

• Photosynthesis directly produces glucose

• Chemosynthesis produces carbohydrates

• Cellulose = structural component of plant

cell walls; is the most abundant biomolecule

on Earth

CARBOHYDRATES, CON’T

• Carbohydrates make up the cell walls of many diverse organisms

• Ex: bacteria, fungi, algae

• Arthropod exoskeletons = chitin

• Chemical receptors = cell communication

2. Primary Dietary Sources

• Plant-based

LIPIDS

1. Biological Importance

• Most important trait = lipids do not mix well

with water

• Cells would not exist without lipids

• Phosophlipid bilayer = cell membranes

• Energy storage

• Like gasoline molecules

• Twice as energy-rich as carbohydrates

• Long-term energy reserves

LIPIDS, CON’T

• Steroids

• Chemical communication and regulation

• Cholesterol helps maintain the structure & function of animal cell membranes

2. Dietary Sources

• Plant-based: unsaturated fats

• Animal-based: saturated fats

PROTEINS

1. Biological Importance

• Nearly every dynamic function of a living thing depends on proteins

• From the Greek word proteios, meaning “first place”

• Make up more than 50% of the dry mass of most cells

• Instrumental in almost everything organisms do

PROTEINS, CON’T

• Chemical reactions, structural support, storage, transport, communication, movement, defense mechanisms

• Life would not be possible without enzymes

• Proteins are the most structurally sophisticated molecules known.

2. Dietary sources

• Plant-based

• Animal-based

NUCLEIC ACIDS

1. Biological Importance

• Enable living organisms to reproduce their complex components from one generation to the next.

• Store and transmit hereditary information

• Encoded in DNA is the information that programs all of a cell’s activities

• Determines the amino acid sequence of proteins

NUCLEIC ACIDS, CON’T

• Interestingly, DNA is not directly involved in running the operations of a cell

• Analogy = computer software vs. hardware

• Tape Measures of Evolution

• Linear sequences of nucleotides in DNA are passed from parent to offspring.

• Compare sequences among living things to determine relatedness and change over time

2. Dietary sources

• From any living thing!

HIGH-ENERGY MOLECULES: ATP• (These go on the flap page that was added to the nucleic acids flap of the notes booklet.)

• ATP = adenosine triphosphate

• Subunits = nucleotides

• An important source of energy for cellular processes.

• When ATP reacts with water, energy is released.

• Hydrolysis of ATP (phosphate group removed)

• Cells use THAT energy to do work!

ADDITIONAL NOTES

•Record the following notes on lined paper in notes section of binder.

Can be added to the notes pages with the cut-out or foldable macromolecule

models.

EMERGENT PROPERTIES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

•Life is organized along a hierarchy of structural and functional levels.

•With each new level, new properties emerge.

Atoms have unique properties

When atoms combine to form compounds, the compounds have new and unique properties different from their parts.

Functional groups within molecules give rise to unique properties of those larger molecules.

EMERGENT PROPERTIES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE

Monomers have unique properties.

When monomers combine to form polymers, the polymers have new and unique properties different from their individual monomers.

Macromolecules assemble and work together to give rise to more complex structures leading to the next level of the hierarchy of life: CELL ORGANELLES AND CELLS.

EMERGENT PROPERTIES IN THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE