BIOMOLECULES

General Biology 1
 What is Biomolecules?
A biomolecule is a chemical compound
found in living organisms. These include
chemicals that are composed of mainly carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and
phosphorus.
 What is Biomolecules?
Biomolecules are the building blocks of life
and perform important functions in living
organisms.
 Remember:
Monomer Dimer Polymer
“Mono” “Di” “Poly”
means one. means two. means many.
 Categories of
CarbohydratesBiomolecules
Lipids

Nucleic Acids Proteins

CARBOHYDRATE
S
 Carbohydrates
• Formally known as saccharides.
• It is derived from the French term Hydrate de
Carbone.
• Carbohydrates provide energy to the body,
particularly through glucose, a simple sugar that is
a component of starch and an ingredient in many
staple foods.
 Carbohydrates
• The simplest biomolecules
• Contain 3 elements:
• Carbon (C)
• Hydrogen (H)
• Oxygen (O)
 Two Types of
Carbohydrates
1. Simple Carbohydrates
• It contains
monosaccharides
and disaccharide
groups e.g. sugar.
 Two Types of
2. ComplexCarbohydrates
Carbohydrates
• It includes the
polysaccharides
group e.g. starch
and cellulose.
 Classification of
Carbohydrates
Monosaccharide – (mono = “one”;
sacchar = sweet) is the simplest sugar and the
basic subunit of a carbohydrate
Common monosaccharides: Glucose, Fructose,
Galactose
Monosaccharide
Glucose Fructose Galactose
 Classification of
DisaccharideCarbohydrates
– formed by either
condensation reaction or hydrolysis reaction.
They are crystalline, water soluble and sweet
to taste.
Common Disaccharide: Sucrose, Lactose,
Maltose
Disaccharide
Sucrose Lactose Maltose
 Common Disaccharides
MALTOSE- called as malt sugar.
- made up of 2 glucose molecules.
LACTOSE- called as milk sugar as it is found naturally
in milk.
- made up of glucose and galactose.
- souring of milk is due to conversion of
lactose to lactic acid.
 Common Disaccharides
SUCROSE- called as cane sugar. It is the sugar found in
sugar cane and sugar beet.
-most abundant among naturally occurring
sugars.
- made up of glucose and fructose.
 Classification of
Carbohydrates
Polysaccharide – known as complex
carbohydrates, they are large molecules that
are made up of any smaller units that are
joined
Common Polysaccharide: Starch, Glycogen,
Cellulose
Polysaccharide
Starch Glycogen Cellulose
 Functions of
• Carbohydrates
Most abundant source of energy
• Precursors for many organic compounds
(fats, amino acids)
• Present as glycoproteins and glycolipids in
the cell membrane and functions such as
cell growth and fertilization
• Present as structural components like
cellulose in plants exoskeleton of some
insects, cell wall of microorganisms
• Storage form of energy (glycogen) to meet
the energy demands of the body
LIPIDS
 What are Lipids?
• Lipids include:
• Fats
• Oils
• Most lipids are made of just carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen
 What are Lipids?
• But unlike carbohydrates, fats are more
complex and take much longer to break down
• So, fats are high-energy molecules that
plants and animals use to store energy in
reserves for longer periods.
 Common Lipids
• Fatty Acids or Carboxylic Acids
• Neutral fats or Triglycerides
• Steroids
• Waxes
 Common Lipids
Fatty Acids or Carboxylic Neutral Fats or
Acids Triglycerides
 Common Lipids
Steroids Waxes
 Functions of Lipids
• They are the concentrated fuel reserve of the body
• Lipids are constituents of membrane structure and
regulate the membrane permeability
• They serve as source of fat soluble vitamins
• Lipids are important cellular metabolic regulators
• Lipids protect the internal organs and serve as
insulating materials
NUCLEIC ACIDS
 What are the Nucleic
• Acids?
They are the most important macromolecules for
the continuity of life. They carry the genetic
blueprint of a cell and carry instructions for the
functioning of the cell.
• Contain information that cells use to make proteins
• Made of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen
 What are the Nucleic
• Acids?
These are long polymers of repeating monomers
called nucleotides.
• Each nucleotides consists of three parts:
-five carbon sugar
(pentose sugar)
-phosphate group
-nitrogenous base
 In DNA the pentose sugar is called Deoxyribose
while in RNA the pentose sugar is called Ribose.
Two main types of Nucleic
Deoxyribonucleic Acids Ribonucleic
acid (DNA) Acid (RNA)
DEOXYRIBOSE NUCLEIC ACID
(DNA)
• It is the Information Storage.
• It is the molecule that carries genetic
information for the development and
functioning of an organism.
• The structure of the DNA is double
helix or twisted ladder.
 RIBONUCLEIC ACID (RNA)
• It is the Protein Synthesis.
• Is an important biological
Z macromolecule that functions to convert
the genetic information of DNA into
proteins
• The structure of RNA is most often a
single stranded.
Nitrogenous Base in DNA and
RNA
 Function of Nucleic Acid
• Responsible for the transmission of
inherent characters from parent to
offspring
• Responsible for the synthesis of protein in
our body
PROTEINS
 What is Protein?
• Proteins are big molecules called macromolecules
• Made of smaller molecules called amino acids
• Made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
sulfur, & some other elements
• Have structural and mechanical uses and also
participate in many cellular process.
 Amino Acids
• Amino acids are the monomers that make up
proteins.
• There are 20 amino acids required for human life to
exist.
• 12 amino acids are made in our bodies, but the
other 8 must be obtained by eating foods that
contain them.
 Types of Proteins
• Enzymes – are catalysts in biochemical reactions
(like digestion) and are usually complex or
conjugated proteins
 Types of Proteins
• Hormones – are chemical-signaling molecules,
usually small proteins or steroids, secreted by
endocrine cells that act to control or regulate
specific physiological processes, including growth,
development, metabolism, and reproduction
Hormones
 Function of Proteins
• Building tissues and Muscles
• Hormone Production
• Enzymes
• Immune Function
• Energy