4Q: SCIENCE

THE BIOMOLECULES

Biomolecules are compounds present in a living system such as the human body. These biomolecules
are important for the proper functioning of the system. Some of these biomolecules are proteins
carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acid. Let's first take into account what makes up these biomolecules.

Biomolecules are responsible for forming living systems. They maintain and regulate the functioning of
an organism, be it a human , an animal or a plant.

CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates are biomolecules composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen They follow the
molecular formula {CH2 O} Some carbohydrates. Reproduced in plants during photosynthesis.

Carbohydrates are the Primary Sources of energy in the body.

The structure of an amino acid has four different groups of molecules attached to the a-carbon. These
four groups are (1) the carboxyl group (-CoO-), (2) the amino group (-NH3,), (3) the hydrogen, and (4)
the side chain group (R). The identity and classification of each amino acid depend on the nature of the
side chain group. There are 20 common amino acids.

Usually carbohydrates are present in cereals, grains such as rice, bread, noodles, and fruits.
Carbohydrates are the primary sources of energy in the body. For instance, glucose (C6, H12, O6) is the
primary source of energy for the brain and the nervous system. Each gram of carbohydrate can release
approximately four kilocalories of energy when burned.

Carbohydrates are actually classified into three types:

1. Monosaccharides
- Monosaccharides are considered the simplest sugars. Common examples of
monosaccharides are glucose, fructose and galactose. Glucose is the most important
sugar in the human body. It is found in many food samples and has many common
names such as dextrose, grape sugar, and blood sugar. Glucose is broken down in a
process called glycolysis and metabolic path ways to release energy for body processes.
Glucose has an aldehyde group, thus making it an example of an aldose.

2. Oligosaccharides
- This type of carbohydrate contains two or more simple Sugar units that are linked
together by a gycosidic bond. The most common oligosaccharides are the disaccharides,
which contain only two simple sugar units.

Sucrose, lactose, and maltose are some common disaccharides.

• Sucrose is an important carbohydrate in plants. This is a water soluble sugar and is easily transported
in plants. Sucrose is commonly known as table Sugar, cane sugar or beet sugar. It is formed through the
gylcosidic bond that joins glucose and fructose. The structure of sucrose is shown
• Lactose or milk sugar is a disaccharide formed from glucose and galactose units. This is the main sugar
component in the milk of most mammals. Lactose undergoes hydrolysis, a chemical reaction that breaks
down the molecules into their components by the addition of water. In the hydrolysis of lactose, glucose
and galactose are produced, which are then used by the body as a source of energy. During hydrolysis,
an enzyme called lactase is used. However, there are some people who are unable to hydrolyze lactose,
resulting in a condition called lactose intolerance. This is characterized by the accumulation of
undigested lactose in the intestinal tract. This can result in vomiting diarrhea, or dehydration. People
who are suffering from lactose intolerance are not advised to include milk or any other dairy product in
their diet.

• Maltose or malt sugar is a disaccharide that links two glucose units.

3. Polysaccharides
- Polysaccharides are the largest and the most complex carbohydrates. They contain
many simple sugar units linked together. Common examples of polysaccharides are
starch, glycogen and cellulose.
- Polysaccharides are polymers seen in plants and animals. They perform a variety of
roles.

REMEMBER: fructose is the sweetest than the table sugar. It is commonly known as fruit sugar

- Fructose is considered as the sweetest of all the sugar units. This simple sugar is
sometimes called fruit sugar or levulose. Usually, fructose is found in most sweet fruits
in honey and in corn syrup . The structure of fructose is somehow similar to glucose.
However it contains ketone group, making it an example of a ketose The structure of
fructose is show

- Galactose is another important monosaccharide. It is found in biological Systems as a

LIPIDS

- Lipids are biomolecules characterized by having a polar head and a nonpolar hydrocarbon chain.
They are a class of biological molecules defined by their low solubility in water and high
solubility in nonpolar solvents. Lipids are classified into fatty acids and their derivatives.
Examples of derivatives triacyglycerols, waxes, steroids, phospholipids (phosphoglycerides and
sphingomyelins), sphingolipids, and isoprenoids
- Lipids are polymers containing a polar head and a nonpolar chain, which are commonly
observed in fats, oils, waxes and steroids.
- The common feature of lipids in our diet is the triglycerides Such as those in animal fats (e.g
butter. lard) and vegetable oils (e-g. canola oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil. Fats and oils both
contain esters of fatty acids.
NUCLEIC ACID

Some of your classmates have curly hair and others have straight hair. Some Filipinos have fair skin, as
compared to other Filipinos who have dark skin. These characteristics have been inherited from one's
parents. These inherited features resulted from the individual' genetic makeup brought about by a class
of biomolecules called nucleic acids.

Nucleic acids are biomolecules that contains basic unit called nucleotides. Nucleotides consist of three
parts the nitrogenous base, Ve-carbon Sugar and the phosphate group.

Nucleic acids are polymers containing the basic units called nucleotides, which govern the essentials of
life.

NITROGEN

Nitrogen (N) is another element that is usually present in most biomolecules. Usually, nitrogen is
present as a part of the amino group in any molecule. One of the most common biomolecules where
nitrogen is present is protein. Lets take a look at the structure of a protein molecule.

the structure of protein molecule is composed of four regions: carboxyl group, hydrogen, side chain
group. all of these groups are attached.

A protein molecule is composed primarily of its basic structure called amino acid. Each amino acid is
composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. and nitrogen which are linked covalently, Amino acids also
exhibit special bonds like a hydrogen bond. A special type of covalent bond between hydrogen and a
more electronegative atom such as nitrogen. There are also some amino acids that contain other
elements such as sulfur S. Two amino acids that contain sulfur are methionine and cysteine. The
structure is shown in figure 10.13.

PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus is another element that can be seen in some biomolecules such as nucleic acids.
particularly, phosphorus is part of the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acids
(RNA).

PROTEIN

- Proteins are biomolecules that are considered to be the most abundant in the cells. They
perform a wide variety of functions. One of them is that they serve as defense proteins such as
the antibodies. These are specific proteins that combat foreign materials called antigens in our
immune system. Enzymes are also proteins that function as biological catalyst; they speed up
biochemical reactions in the body. An example is salivary amylase, which converts starch into its
glucose units. Another function of proteins is to transfer a material from one part of the body to
another. One good example is hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all parts of the body.
 - Proteins also regulate cell functions such as those in metabolism and in reproduction. Proteins
also acts as mechanical support for bones, tendons, and skin, such as the keratin in our hair and
nails. Protein also give nutrients, especially for infants. Some example of these proteins are the
albumin in egg and the casein in milk.
- Are polymers containing amino acids, linked together by peptide bonds, which perform various
functions in a living system like humans, plants , and animals.

THE STRUCTURES OF RNA AND DNA

The backbones of the DNA and the RNA molecules are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
and even phosphorus, which are linked covalently. Hydrogen bonding is also evident in the structures,
resulting in the helical form of the structure.

Aside from nucleic acids, phosphorus is also present in a molecule called phospholipid, which belongs to
the lipid group. The structure of a phospholipid is shown in figure 10.1.5

Elements such as nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and even halogen elements are
importantly in any living system.