AP Biology
Chapters 5.1-5.5
 Life is built out of carbon molecules
 C atoms are versatile building blocks
 4 valence electrons
 4 stable, covalent bonds
 Capable of forming large molecules
 All important molecules that make up living
organisms fall into one of four categories
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Proteins
 Nucleic acids
 Carbs, Proteins, N.A. are
made of chain-like
repeating units
 Monomers
 M + M = Polymer
 Make polymers through
dehydration
 Break down polymers
through hydrolysis
 Sugars and polymers of sugars
 General Functions:
 Store short term energy
 Cellular antennae
 Monosaccharides:
 Simple sugar molecule
 Provide short term energy
 Disaccharides:
 Two sugar molecule
 Polysaccharide:
 Complex starch molecules
 Stores short term energy
 Plants
 Starch: energy source
 Cellulose: cell walls
 Animals
 Glycogen: energy source
 Chitin: exoskeletons
 The smallest of the
macromolecules
 Not a true polymer
 Glycerol head
 Fatty acid tail
 General Functions:
 Long term energy
 Insulation
 Cell Membranes
 Phospholipids
 Cholesterol
 Animals
 Hormones
 3-Dimensional polymers
 Monomers: amino acids
 General Function:
 build/repair tissue
 Primary Structure
 Amino acid sequence
 Secondary Structure
 2-D alpha sheet
 Tertiary Structure
 R-group interaction
 Quaternary Structure
 Multiple polypeptide
 Enzymes:
 Speed up chemical reactions
 Organism  Organelle Structures:
 Cell membrane component
 Cell Cycle:
 Regulate cell division/replication
 Most important macromolecule for biotic existence
 Monomers: nucleotides
 General Functions:
 Encode, Transmit, and Express genetic information
 Deoxyribonucleic Acid
 Double Stranded
 Nitrogen Bases A,C,T,G
 Found in the nucleus
 Unique blueprint for an individual
 Ribonucleic Acid
 Single Stranded
 Nitrogen Bases A,C,U,G
 Found throughout the cell
 Transmits genetic information
 Gene Expression:
 DNA encodes the instructions for protein synthesis