1. Macromolecules/Biomolecules
Building Blocks of Life

2. Monomers Build Polymers
Monomers: Small units that join together. Also referred to as building blocks
Polymers: Large compounds built from monomers
Ex: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
Monomers Polymers

3. Carbohydrates Made up of C,H,O Function: source of energy (short term)
Examples: sugar, rice, bread, potatoes
Monomer: monosaccharide (simple sugar)

4. Carbohydrates Monomer: monosaccharide (simple sugar) Monosaccharide
Each unit is a ring made of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen
Monosaccharide
glucose
glucose
Disaccharide
Maltose

5. Carbohydrates Polysaccharide Monomer: monosaccharide (simple sugar)
Each unit is a ring made of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen
glucose
cellulose
Polysaccharide

6. Memorize this basic shape!
Carbohydrates
What to look for in a monomer – how do I know it’s a monosaccharide?
Often in a ring shape, either hexagon or pentagon
Contains only C, H, and O
Glucose is the most widely used example:
Memorize this basic shape!
glucose

7. Lipids
Made of C,H,O
Functions: Store energy (long term), building blocks of membranes
Examples: wax, oil, butter, steroids, makeup
Monomers: glycerol and fatty acids

8. Lipids What to look for—how do I know it’s a lipid?
Memorize this basic shape!
A “head” (glycerol) with three tails (fatty acids)
Long chains of carbon and hydrogen

9. Proteins
Made of C,H,O,N
Functions: Build body structures, control chemical reactions, do cellular work
Example: meat/muscle, hair, nails, enzymes, peanut butter, milk
Monomer: amino acid

10. Proteins Monomer: amino acid
There are 20 different kinds of amino acids that hook together via peptide bonds to form proteins
aa1
aa2
aa3
aa4
aa5
aa6
Peptide Bonds
Amino Acids (aa)

11. Just to give you an idea…

12. Proteins
What to look for in a monomer – how do I know it’s an amino acid?
All amino acids have two major things in common:
Glycine
One side with a nitrogen and hydrogens (amino group)
One side with two oxygens connected to a carbon (carboxyl group)
Phenylalanine

13. Building/Breaking down Polymers
Building Polymers= Dehydration Synthesis
Breaking the Polymers= Hydrolysis
“Taking away water”
“Adding Water”

14. Activity!
If you received a paper on the way in, come to the front of the classroom, bring your paper!

15. Nucleic Acids Made of C,H,O,N,P
Functions: genetic code, cellular energy (ATP ONLY!)
Example: DNA, RNA, ATP
Monomer: nucleotide

16. Nucleic Acids
Monomer: nucleotide

17. Memorize this basic shape!
Nucleic Acids
How do I know it’s a nucleotide?
All nucleotides have a sugar (pentagon), a base (hexagon OR pentagon with a hexagon), and at least one phosphate (usually a circle)
Memorize this basic shape! B S P B S P

18. Nucleic Acids How do I know it’s a nucleotide?
All nucleotides have a sugar (pentagon), a base (hexagon OR pentagon with a hexagon), and at least one phosphate (usually a circle)
A special nucleotide called ATP has three phosphates instead of one B S P

19. Food Labels

20. 1. Glue in Macromolecules Sheet
2. Put away Notebook
3. Get out Biomolecules packet and a pencil and highlighter

21. Glue in Biomolecules Grid Sheet
Pack up
Keep out the Food Label Investigation sheet

22. Stomach Contents
Carbs
Positive
Lipids
Sugar
Proteins