Carbon Compounds Section 2 3 Biology I Macromolecules

Carbon Compounds Section 2 -3 Biology I

Macromolecules ► Made from hundreds and even thousands of micro molecules ► Formed by the process of polymerization § Process by which large compounds are built by joining smaller ones togeather ► Small units are called monomers ► Monomers form polymers (larger compounds)

4 major types of organic compounds found in living things ► Carbohydrates ► Lipids ► Nucleic acids ► Proteins

Carbohydrates ► Made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen usually in a ratio of 1: 2: 1 ► Living things use carbohydrates as their main source of energy ► Single sugars are known as monosaccharides ► Large macromolecules formed from monosaccharides are called polysaccharides

Carbs. Cont. ► Animals store excess polysaccharides as glycogen ► Plants store excess polysaccharides as starch and cellulose

Lipids ► Not soluble in water ► Made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms ► Common lipids are fats, oils, and waxes ► Can be used to store energy, important part of biological membranes, and waterproof coverings

Lipids Cont. ► Lipids form when glycerol joins with a fatty acid (page 46) ► Saturated vs. Unsaturated (Polyunsaturated)

Nucleic Acids ► Macromolecules containing nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and phosphorus ► Nucleic acids are polymers assembled from monomers ► Monomers are called nucleotides – § Nucleotides – transmit and store genetic information ► Consist of 3 parts – § 5 -carbon sugar § Phosphate group § Nitrogenous base

2 Kinds of Nucleotides ► RNA and DNA § RNA – Contains sugar “Ribose” § DNA – Contains sugar “Deoxyribose”

Proteins ► Macromolecule that contains nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen ► Help carry out chemical reactions, transport molecules, regulate cell processes, used to form bones and muscles, and fight disease

Proteins Cont. ► Most diverse of the four macromolecules ► Proteins are polymers constructed from monomers called amino acids § more than 20 amino acids found in nature § Amino acids are composed of an amino group, carboxyl group, and an “R-group” § Ex: shortest and longest proteins

Cont. Proteins ► Things that make amino acids different is the “R” group ► ex: serine, guanine, alanine, etc. ► Instructions for arranging amino acids to make proteins is contained in DNA. § Sequence of amino acids determines the type of protein that will be made and its function

4 Levels of Organization With Proteins ► Sequence of amino acid chain ► Can be twisted or folded ► Chain itself can be folded ► Shape (arrangement in space)