1. Biomolecules

2. All living things need energy and nutrients
All living things need energy and nutrients. Most organisms get their energy and nutrients from their FOOD in the form of biomolecules.
Proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and lipids
are the 4 main classes of biomolecules.

3. Nucleic acids Proteins Carbohydrates
3 of the 4 classes of biomolecules are classified as polymers. These are long molecules are made of very similar, repeating monomers.
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Carbohydrates

4. Understanding the Vocabulary
Photo by Toni Lozano
When we say “polymer” we are referring to the whole molecule. What would you call the entire object above?
It is a chain. I would say that chains are like polymers.

5. It is a link. I would say that links are like monomers.
Polymer: chain
Monomer: link
Photo by Toni Lozano
When we say “monomer” we are referring to the individual piece that keeps repeating. What would you call the individual pieces of a chain?
It is a link. I would say that links are like monomers.

6. The entire chain is the polymer, and each monkey is a monomer.
In this picture, what would you say is the polymer, and what would be the monomers?
The entire chain is the polymer, and each monkey is a monomer.

7. Important Vocabulary:
1. All of the biomolecules can be broken apart or digested to obtain their building blocks and the energy inside of them.
2. Biomolecules can also be built or synthesized by the cells to complete certain tasks and store energy for later use.

8. Carbohydrates are made of sugars
This is a
simple sugar
This large molecule is a complex carbohydrate.

9. Carbohydrates are also known as saccharides.
monosaccharide
disaccharide
polysaccharide

10. Carbohydrates provide ENERGY!
Sugars are produced by plants during photosynthesis, and they are the primary source of energy for most organisms.
Carbohydrates provide ENERGY!

11. Carbohydrates are also used in the cell walls of plants and other organisms. When sugars are placed together into complex carbohydrates like cellulose they become very strong and rigid.
cell wall
Cellulose

12. Lipids
Types of Lipids
Lipids are the group of biomolecules that contains fats, cholesterols, and phospholipids.
Diagrams by Eoin Fahy

13. Fats are a primary example of lipids.
Fats are made of a glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acids.

14. Lipids can also be used to store large amounts of energy.
Gram for gram, lipids contain
MORE ENERGY than carbohydrates. This is why your body stores its extra energy in the form of fat.

15. Lipids
Lipids are also the primary component of all of the cell’s membranes. Membranes are made out of phospholipid molecules.
Phospholipid

16. With a partner, discuss the following question:
What are two ways that carbs and lipids are alike?

17. Nucleic acids are made of nucleotides
This is a nucleotide
This large molecule is a nucleic acid.

18. Every nucleotide has 3 basic parts:
1. The phosphate group
2. A sugar named deoxyribose
3. One of the 4 nitrogen bases

19. The primary function of nucleic acids is to store genetic information used to make proteins.
DNA & RNA are the two main types of nucleic acids. The NA in DNA and RNA stands for Nucleic Acid!
RNA

20. This large molecule is a protein.
Proteins are made of
amino acids
This is an amino acid
This large molecule is a protein.

21. Proteins are also known as polypeptides.
This is because the bond that holds amino acids together in a protein is called a peptide bond.
Peptide Bonds

22. Proteins
Proteins are the most diverse groups of biomolecule, and they perform the largest variety of functions in the cells.
IMPORTANT:
The order of the amino acids determines the shape of protein
Shape determines FUNCTION!

23. Proteins can be used to transport molecules through membranes, attack invading germs, carry oxygen through the blood and send signals through the body!
Image by Gareth White
Hemoglobin
Insulin
(Hormone)
Enzymes
Immunoglobin
(Antibodies)

24. Structure of Proteins
Primary Structure is just the specific order of amino acids in the chain.
Secondary Structures are either a helix or a pleated sheet formed form hydrogen bonds reacting between the amino acids.

25. Structure of Proteins
Tertiary Structure occurs because of attractions between the alpha helices and pleated sheets.
Quaternary Structure
is a protein consisting of more than one amino acid chain.

26. With a partner, discuss the following question:
What are the building blocks of nucleic acids? What are the building blocks of proteins?

27. Enzyme digesting a molecule
Possibly the most important type of proteins are called enzymes. Enzymes are found in every cell, and they speed up chemical reactions inside the cell.
Enzymes
Enzyme digesting a molecule

28. Enzymes
1. Enzymes can break apart or digest large molecules into smaller pieces.
2. Enzymes can also synthesize large molecules by putting small pieces together.

29. Important Fact
Proteins
All four classes of biomolecules are considered organic compounds. This is because they are all based on the element carbon.
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic Acids