1. Unit 2 Biochemistry
2.4 Macromolecules

2. Macromolecules of Life
Found in all living things
Building blocks of all cells
Made up of the atoms: Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur.

3. Macromolecules Contain Carbon
Carbon is unique because it contains 4 valence electrons.
Each carbon can make four covalent bonds with other types of atoms or additional Carbons.
This allows Carbon to create many different structures, which allow for different functions.
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4. Building Blocks of Life
A single macromolecule is called a monomer
Mono=one
Mer=molecule
When you combine monomers, you get bigger molecules called polymers.
Poly=many
The prefix mono- and poly- are applied to all macromolecules to describe the individual building blocks and the larger molecules.

5. A Polymer EXAMPLE of POLYMER MONOMER A TRAIN ? A NECKLACE
Here are some analogies to better understand what polymers and monomers are….
EXAMPLE of POLYMER
MONOMER
A TRAIN ?
A NECKLACE
If the train is the whole polymer, what would be the small groups that make up the train? If the necklace is the polymer, what are the monomers that make up the necklace?

6. Dehydration Synthesis
Ways to Form Polymers
Dehydration Synthesis: removes water to join monomers to form a polymer.
It’s a chemical reaction:
Monomer Monomer  Polymer + H2O
Dehydration Synthesis

7. Ways to Break Apart Polymers
Hydrolysis: breaks the bonds in a polymer by adding water to create monomers.
It’s also a chemical reaction:
Polymer H2O  Monomer Monomer
Hydrolysis

8. Macromolecules Molecule Elements Building Blocks Function Examples
Carbohydrates
C, H, & O
Monosaccharide
Short-term energy and structure
Glucose, starch, cellulose

9. Macromolecules Molecule Elements Building Blocks Function Examples
Lipids
C, H, & O
Glycerol + Fatty Acid
Long-term energy, insulation, protection, and steroids
Cholesterol, hormones, wax, cell membrane

10. Macromolecules Molecule Elements Building Blocks Function Examples
Proteins
C, H, O, & N
Amino acids
Structure and enzymes (speed up chemical reactions)
Hemoglobin, hair, insulin, lactase

11. Macromolecules Molecule Elements Building Blocks Function Examples
Nucleic Acid
C, H, O, N, & P
Nucleotides
Holds the genetic code
RNA, DNA