, O

C, H

BIOLOGICAL
MOLECULES
Carbohydrates,
Proteins
& Fats
Exp
i i
 4-1 BIOLOGICAL
MOLECULES
Learning Objectives:
 Identify the chemical elements present in carbohydrates,
proteins and lipids (fats and oils)
 Describe the structure of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids as
large molecules made up from smaller basic units: starch and
glycogen from simple sugars, protein from amino acids, and
lipid from fatty acids and glycerol
 Describe how different amino acid sequences give different
protein shapes
 Relate the shape and structure of protein molecules to their
function
The most common molecules in living things;
 Water BUT water is NOT a biological molecule.
 Carbohydrates
 Proteins
 Lipids Biological molecules
 Nucleic acids

Elements that make up biological molecules:

C, H, O, N, S
 Carbohydrates contain 3 elements; C, H, O
 Lipids contain 3 elements; C, H, O

 Proteins contain 4 or 5 elements; C, H, O, N, S

(We will learn about nucleic acids later when we learn Inheritance)

By Sodini Ariyarathna
• All biological molecules are huge. So, we call them
Macromolecules.
• They are made of small molecules (same type or
different types) joining together. So, we call them
Polymers.

A polymer is a
large molecule
made up of a long
chain of repeating
subunits called
monomers

PMG Biology

By Sodini Ariyarathna
• Protein • Starch
• Cellulose
• Glycogen

Amino acid glucose

Basic unit/
monomer

Glycerol +
nucleotide
fatty acid

• Lipids • Nucleic
acid

By Sodini Ariyarathna
Carbohydrates

By Sodini Ariyarathna
STRUCTURE OF CARBOHYDRATES
 Simplest carbohydrates comprise a single molecule and are
called monosaccharides.

Trioses Pentoses Hexoses

(3-carbons) (5-carbons) (6-carbons)
 A disaccharide is formed when two monosaccharides join
together by a covalent bond.

 Polysaccharides are polymers composed of a large number

of monosaccharides.
 Mono= one
Carbohydrates Di= two
Poly= many

Monosaccharides Disaccharides Polysaccharides

Glucose Maltose Starch

Fructose Sucrose Glycogen

Galactose Lactose Cellulose

 FUNCTIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates serve as fuel

and building material.

Form the cell wall of

Plants: Cellulose
Fungi: Chitin
A2B Car Rental Bacteria: Peptidoglycan
Glucose is the fuel
in cells
Expii

Carbohydrates are
stored in the form of
Starch in plants Animals store
carbohydrates as glycogen
in the liver and muscles
 GLUCOSE
Glucose
is a
Monosaccharide
&
Glucose is the primary Chemical formula
energy source of organisms. C6H12O6

Structure of glucose

YES, all three

polysaccharides you Starch
learn are made of Glycogen
Researchgate.net
glucose molecules Cellulose
joining together by
covalent bonds.
Food rich in carbohydrates
 Polysaccharides

• Polysaccharides, the polymers of

sugars, have storage and structural roles

• The structure and function of a

polysaccharide are determined by its
sugar monomers and the positions of
glycosidic linkages
 Types of Polysaccharides: Storage

• Starch, a storage
polysaccharide of
plants, consists
entirely of glucose
monomers
• Plants store surplus
starch as granules
within chloroplasts
and other plastids
• The simplest form of
starch is amylose

13
 Types of Polysaccharides: Storage

• Glycogen is a
storage
polysaccharide in
animals
• Humans and other
vertebrates store
glycogen mainly in
liver and muscle cells

14
 Types of Polysaccharides: Structural

• The polysaccharide cellulose is a major

component of the tough wall of plant cells

• Like starch, cellulose is a polymer of glucose,

but the glycosidic linkages differ

• The difference is based on two ring forms for

glucose: alpha () and beta ()

15
Cellulose: A termite’s best friend!

Note the
H-bonds

16
Such Elegance!

17
 Polysaccharide
Random Acts of Biology
• Cellulose in human food passes through the
digestive tract as insoluble fiber
• Some microbes use enzymes to digest cellulose
• Many herbivores, from cows to termites, have
symbiotic relationships with these microbes

• Chitin, another structural polysaccharide, is found

in the exoskeleton of arthropods (crunch!)

• Chitin also provides structural support for the cell

walls of many fungi
18
Who knew?

19
 TEST FOR GLUCOSE

Benedict’s test

1. Add a few drops of Benedict’s solution to the 5ml of the sample solution.
2. Heat the mixture in a water bath.
3. The colour of the solution changes to orange/ brick red if glucose is present.

sciencephoto.com
BIology Revision Site - Weebly

Benedict’s
solution Glucose
Safety measures:
1. Use goggles & gloves
2. Use a water bath
 TEST FOR STARCH Iodine test

1. Add one or two drops of Iodine solution (yellow) to the sample (solution or a solid).
2. Iodine turns to blue black colour in the presence of starch.

https://fineartamerica.com

Safety measures:
1. Use goggles & gloves
 LIPIDS

Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic

molecules
• Lipids are the one class of large biological molecules that
do not form polymers
• The unifying feature of lipids is having little or no affinity
for water (water fearing)
• Lipids are hydrophobic because they consist mostly of
hydrocarbons, which form nonpolar covalent bonds
• The most biologically important lipids are fats,
phospholipids, and steroids

22
 FATS: START WITH A SIMPLE LITTLE
GLYCEROL MOLECULE

• Fats are constructed from two types of

smaller molecules: glycerol and fatty
acids
• Glycerol is a three-carbon alcohol with a
hydroxyl group attached to each carbon
• A fatty acid consists of a carboxyl group
attached to a long carbon skeleton

23
DEHYDRATION RXN 1: ADD A FATTY ACID

• Next, add a “fatty acid” through a dehydration synthesis

reaction
• What makes it an acid? The C double bond O, single
bond OH!

24
PROTEINS AKA….

Whey
Protein

Meat

Polypeptide
Peanut
butter
 BREAKS DOWN INTO MICROSCOPIC
MOLECULES

Polypeptide

Meat

Amino Acid
Monomer: amino acid
Polymer: polypeptide
MONOMER: AMINO ACIDS

•Contains C, H, O, N
•20 types
•Has both hydrophobic
& hydrophylic ends
•Differ in R-group
•R-group can be acidic,
basic or neutral
•Makes polypeptide then
makes proteins
POLYMER: POLYPEPTIDE
(PEPTIDE MEANS BOND)

•Formed by
dehydration
synthesis
•Sequence
determined by
DNA
•3-D and folds to
take up less space
FUNCTION OF PROTEINS

Provides
 us with building blocks
for life!
Also regulate most functions in a


cell.
Glycoproteins (antigens)


Combines w/DNA to form



chromosomes
Turns genes on and off


Antibodies (fights disease)


FUNCTION OF PROTEINS

Provides
 structure & strength
(fibers)
Transports molecules in & out


cells
Hemoglobin (transports O2)


Enzymes (speeds up rxns)- has



–ase suffix
Acts as hormones (insulin)-


many proteins have suffix of -in

NUCLEIC ACIDS

 Contains C, H, O, N, P
 Monomer: NUCLEOTIDES

 Nucleotides consist of 3 parts:

1. 5-Carbon Sugar
2. Phosphate Group
3. Nitrogenous Base
NUCLEOTIDE: NITROGEN BASES

5 types
 Cytosine

 Guanine

 Adenine

 Thymine (in DNA only)

 Uracil (in RNA only)

 Purines or pyrimidines

In DNA: In RNA:
C-G C-G
A-T A-U
 NUCLEOTIDES:
5-CARBON SUGAR AND PHOSPHATE GROUP

2 types of sugars
Ribose (in RNA only)
Deoxyribose (in DNA
deoxyribose ribose only)
 Phosphate group

Contains phosphorus &

oxygen
 Polymer: polynucleotide
 FUNCTION
POLYPEPTIDE: DNA (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID)

 contains the genetic code

 stores & transmit
heredity/genetic information
 found in the nucleus
(mitochondria)
 Double stranded (double helix)
 FUNCTION
POLYPEPTIDE: RNA (RIBONUCLEIC ACID)

 Carries info from DNA to

cell
 Helps in protein synthesis

 found in ribosomes &

nucleoli
 Single stranded
POLYPEPTIDE: ATP
Contains adenine, ribose sugar, 3
phosphates
Stores and releases energy
 Concept Map
Section 2-3

Carbon
Compounds
include

that consist of that consist of that consist of that consist of

which contain which contain which contain which contain

 Concept Map
Section 2-3

Carbon
Compounds
include

Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins

that consist of that consist of that consist of that consist of

Sugars and
Fats and oils Nucleotides Amino Acids
starches
which contain which contain which contain which contain

Carbon, Carbon, Carbon,hydrogen, Carbon,

hydrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen,oxygen,
oxygen oxygen phosphorus nitrogen,
WHICH BIOMOLECULE HAS THE MOST
ENERGY!?
C-H BONDS
 Count the number of C-H bonds in your
monosaccharide picture.
 Count the number of C-H bonds in your
saturated or unsaturated bond picture
 Which biomolecule (carbs or fats) have more C-
H bonds?
THE NUMBER OF C-H BONDS = THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY

The more C-H bonds a biomolecule

has, the more energy it has!
Fats have the most energy because
they have the most C-H bonds!
 CHALLENGE!

 Which popular plant process forms glucose?

Photosynthesis
 Which elements form a glucose molecule?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

 What is the molecular formula for glucose?
CH
6 12 O6

 Createa polymer using dehydration synthesis

process.
 CHALLENGE:
DESCRIBE WHAT YOU SEE (AT LEAST 3 SENTENCES)

This is an amino acid. It

is the monomer for a
protein. It contains C, H,
O and N. It has 3 groups:
an amino group, an R-
group, and a carboxyl
group. The R-group is
considered a variant
group because it
changes.
Testing of Biomolecules
TESTING OF CARBOHYDRATES
 BENEDICT’S TEST
How can we test for the presence of reducing sugars?
THE PRESENCE OF REDUCING SUGAR IS INDICATED
BY COLOR CHANGES IN THE SOLUTION
 IODINE TEST – FOR IDENTIFYING STARCH

A few drops of iodine

solution added to any
substance containing starch
will produce a
blue black color.
TESTING OF LIPIDS
ETHANOL EMULSION TEST – FOR IDENTIFYING FATS

A cloudy white emulsion is

formed when ethanol and
water are added to fats.

An emulsion is a suspension
of small drops of a liquid in
another liquid.
TESTING OF PROTEINS
BIURET TEST FOR PROTEINS
Thank you