SC.912.L.18.1 Describe the basic molecular structures and primary functions of the four major categories of
biological macromolecules.
Practice Questions
- Biological macromolecules are defined as large molecules made up of smaller ones.
- There are four classes of macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
- Each macromolecule is made up of smaller units called monomers (building blocks).
- These similar or identical monomers are covalently bonded together to create a large polymer molecule via dehydration synthesis. Dehydration synthesis involves the removal of a water molecule at the bonding site.
- The larger molecule can be broken down by the reverse process, hydrolysis. This occurs when water is added to break the covalent bonds created during dehydration.
Complete the following tutorials:
The Macromolecules of Life: Overview https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/111955
This is part 1 in a five-part series. Click below to explore other tutorials in the series.
1.Carbohydrates: https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114266
2.Lipids: https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114267
3.Proteins https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114276
4.Nucleic Acids https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114277
The Macromolecules of Life: Overview https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/111955
This is part 1 in a five-part series. Click below to explore other tutorials in the series.
1.Carbohydrates: https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114266
2.Lipids: https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114267
3.Proteins https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114276
4.Nucleic Acids https://www.floridastudents.org/PreviewResource/StudentResource/114277
CARBOHYDRATES |
LIPIDS |
PROTEINS
- Proteins are made up of monomers called amino acids. There are twenty amino acids and they can be strung together in unique combinations known as polypeptide chains, the polymer unit for proteins. A protein is only complete and functional when the polypeptide chain is folded into a unique 3-D shape.
NUCLEIC ACIDS
- Nucleic Acids are polymers of nucleotides
- Nucleotides are made up of a five-carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base, and an ion of phosphoric acid (PO43-)
- There are 2 basic types of nucleotides: DNA Nucleotide with a deoxyribose sugar, and the RNA Nucleotide with a ribose sugar, hence their names.
- Nitrogenous bases come in two forms: the purines (2 rings) and the pyrimidines (1 ring)