Biochemistry Part 2:
Macromolecules
Introduction
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

Distinguish between inorganic and organic molecules.

Describe the structure and function of the four main groups of organic
molecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Discuss the nature of enzymes.

Identify the 6 nutrients of living organisms.

Distinguish between macronutrients and micronutrients and their respective
functions.

CHON are 96% of the human body weight

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen make
up almost all compounds in living things.

All compounds divided into 2 groups:
 Organic
= compounds that contain C
 Inorganic
= compounds that do not contain C
Inorganic Compounds

Inorganic compounds = mostly do not contain carbon,
except one = carbon dioxide (CO2)

Most of natural world has inorganic compounds:


water, soil, minerals, sand, stone. So think of all of Earth’s
land and water.
There are also inorganic compounds in living things:

water, CO2, Calcium Phosphate that forms bones, salts to
help balance blood pH, and others.
Organic Compounds

Organic compounds = do contain carbon, more
than 2 million known examples

Carbon is unique!

Remarkable ability to form bonds that are strong and
stable

Each C atom will form 4 bonds

Simplest organic compound is Methane, CH4

C can form chains of almost unlimited length by bonding
to other carbons

These chains can be closed to form rings or can be long
chains
Methane
 Polymerization
=
the process of bonding smaller compounds together to
make larger compounds; “poly” means many.
 Monomers
= smaller compounds
 Polymers = larger compounds
 Macromolecules = very large polymers; “macro” means giant

Example: It is like the alphabet. The alphabet has 26 letters (monomers), we write
(polymerization) letters together to make words (polymers) and very long words
(macromolecules).
What have you learned so far?

1. What is an inorganic compound? An organic compound?

2. Is the chemical composition of the human body similar to the composition
of the Earth’s crust? Explain your answer.

3. What special properties of carbon make it such an important compound in
living things?

4. Describe the process of polymerization.
MACROMOLECULES:
The 4 groups of organic compounds in
living things:
1.
Carbohydrates
2.
Lipids
3.
Proteins
These 3 are found in the
food we eat for
ENERGY
4.
Nucleic Acids
Also found in our food but
we don’t use for energy.
MACROMOLECULE #1:
Carbohydrates (a.k.a. Sugars)

Functions of carbohydrates:
1. Energy and stored energy (contain a lot of energy in their chemical bonds, nearly all living things
use glucose for energy, sugars end with -ose)

Contain only C,H,O atoms

monomer:
monosaccharides = the simple carbohydrate, single sugar chain; mono = single


polymer: disaccharides = two monosaccharides; di = two


Examples: glucose, fructose (fruit), galactose (milk)
Example: sucrose (table sugar), maltose (malt sugar), lactose(milk sugar)
polysaccharides = complex carbohydrate = of three or more sugars, bonded together,
called starch, cellulose and fiber

Example: found in breads, pastas, beans, vegetables
MACROMOLECULE #2:
Lipids (a.k.a. Fats)

Waxy or oily organic compounds, made from C,H,O


Functions of lipids:

1. store energy

2. forms membranes around cells and their organelles

3. messengers called hormones

4. keep in heat (warmth)
Examples of lipids: in avocados, nuts, cooking oils, animal products like meat and
dairy
1. fats : solid at room temperature
2. waxes : solid at room temperature
3. oils : liquid at room temperature

No monomers, just polymers called fatty acids.
Saturated Fats = all single bonds in polymer of fatty acids, releases more energy,
cream, cheese, butter, and fatty meats.
Unsaturated Fats = has one double bond, releases less energy but healthier,
avocado, nuts, and vegetable oils such as canola and olive oils.
Meat products contain both saturated and unsaturated fats.
Polyunsaturated = two or more double bonds, cooking oils
MACROMOLECULE #3:
Proteins

Organic compounds containing C,H,O, and Nitrogen

Monomers = amino acids, also called peptides

Dipeptide = 2 or more amino acids (peptides) bonded together

Polymers = Polypeptides = long chains of amino acids bonded together

More than 20 different amino acids to combine into many different proteins

Functions of protein:

Proteins make up enzymes = these help speed up chemical reactions, called a catalyst, for
example: a chemical reaction that would take 1500 years would then only take 5 seconds with an
enzyme present to speed it up.

Transport other molecules in and out of cells

Make up structures in skin (called collagen) and hair, nails, feathers (called keratin)
Examples of protein: beans, tofu, nuts, animal sources like meat, dairy, eggs
MACROMOLECULE #4:
Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids = large organic molecules made of C,H,O,N and Phosphorous atoms,
fyi: not strong acids.

Monomers = called nucleotides

Polymers = two or more nucleotides bonded together to make nucleic acids

Polynucleic acids = many nucleic acids making very big compounds

2 types of nucleic acids:
1. ribonucleic acids = RNA
 2. deoxyribonucleic acids = DNA


Function of nucleic acids:
1. Store and transmit genetic information responsible for life

Nucleic acids can be found in anything that was once living.
Example: plant and animal items in meals
What have you learned so far?

1. What are the four groups of organic compounds found in living things? Give
an example of each.

2. Distinguish between monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides.

3. What are lipids? How are they important to living things?

4. Describe the structure of a protein.

5. What is an enzyme? What is its function in living things?

6. Describe the structure and function of nucleic acids. What are 2 important
nucleic acids?
NUTRITION

Nutrition = the study of how humans get nutrients we need to survive.

Essential Nutrients = nutrients needed to live but our bodies do not
naturally produce so have to eat them to get them.

6 types of nutrients: C,F,P,V,M,W = Could Franny Play Violin Much Worse?!

1. Carbohydrates

2. Fats

3. Proteins

4. Vitamins

5. Minerals

6. Water
Macronutrients = C,F,P
Micronutrients = V,M,W
1. energy
1. gives no energy
2. build
2. support body functions
3. repair
3. gives structural materials
4. maintain
for repair and maintenance
Macronutrients
vs.
Micronutrients

Calorie = measurement of amount of energy a food
provides to the body.
EXAMPLES OF FUNCTIONS: