Organic Compounds “Macromolecules”

SPONCH

Macromolecules in Living Organisms There are 4 main classes of macromolecules: Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids

Carbohydrates Main function is energy storage Play a role in: Cell to cell communication Immune system Fertilization Blood clotting

Carbohydrates Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen Monosaccharide: single sugar (1C:2H:1O) Examples: glucose (energy for cells), fructose (found in fruit), galactose (found in milk) Disaccharide: two monosaccharides joined by condensation reaction Example: sucrose, lactose (milk), maltose (beer) Polysaccharide: three or more monosaccharides joined by condensation reaction Examples: glycogen (animals store excess sugar); starch (plants store excess sugar)

Store and release energy Stores energy more efficiently than carbohydrates Essential fatty acids important in regulating blood pressure

Lipids Contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen Do NOT dissolve in water (hydrophobic) Fatty Acids: un-branched carbon chains with carboxyl group (COOH) at one end Complex Lipids: Triglyceride Phospholipids Waxes Steroids: four carbon rings with various functional groups attached Testosterone, cholesterol

Phospholipids Found in cell membranes Used to transport materials into or out of a cell Hydrophilic head & hydrophobic tail

Triglycerides Fats & oils Saturated (animals): solid at room temperature Carbon Single Bonds Unsaturated (plants): liquids at room temperature Carbon Double Bonds

Waxes Highly waterproof In plants forms cuticle In animals earwax (protective outer covering) In animals earwax (keeps micro-organisms from entering inner ear)

Proteins Structure Storage Transport Hormones Defense ENZYMES!!!!! Cell membranes Skin Tendons Nails Hair Muscle Storage Transport Hormones Defense ENZYMES!!!!!

Proteins Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen Formed by linking many amino acids together (held together by a peptide bond) Each amino acid contains a central carbon atom, an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen atom, and an “R” group

Proteins R | H2N – C – COOH H Make up 50% of the dry weight of living organisms Building blocks Amino acids, dipeptide, polypeptide R | H2N – C – COOH H The R group is different in each amino acid, & its properties determine the final structure & function of the protein

Proteins

Steroids Steroid nucleus Functions

Nucleic Acids Molecules of inheritance Assembled from monomers called nucleotides A nucleotide contains: phosphate group, nitrogen base, a five carbon sugar DNA & RNA

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids DNA RNA Deoxyribonuleic acid Double stranded Sugar is deoxyribose N base: A, C, G, T Double stranded Contains information about cell activities and cell division Stays in the nucleus RNA Ribonucleic acid Sugar is ribose N base: A, C, G, U Single stranded Stores and transfers information on making proteins Reads the information carried by DNA Leaves the nucleus 3 types: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA