Transcript The Structure and Function of Macromolecules

The Structure and Function of
Macromolecules
Chapter 5
Chapter 5 Page 1: Macromolecules

Macromolecules are large molecules

Polymers are large molecules consisting of many
repeating subunits of monomers

Monomers : repeating subunits used to build
substances
Hydrolysis
 Hydrolysis
=
 To disassemble a polymer the water is
added and the molecule separates.
Condensation Synthesis
 Condensation
Synthesis = subunits are
joined together by condensation
synthesis; a molecule of water is
removed to join them
Chapter 5 Page 2 : Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are sugars; many are polymers

Monosaccharides have the molecular formula C1 H2 O1 or
some multiple thereof Ex C6 H12 O6

Disaccharides consist of two monomers joined by a
glycosidic linkage

Storage Polysaccharides ; Starch in plants, glycogen in
animals- more structurally branched

Structural Polysaccharides: Cellulose- major plant cell
wall component
Chapter5 Page 3: Lipids

Lipids are more commonly known as fats

Lipids are non-polar molecules; they are not water
soluble

They are hydrophobic

Lipids are important for energy storage

Fatty acids, Phospholipids, Steroids
Chapter 5 Page 5 : Proteins


Proteins account for more than 50% of cell dry wt
Protein Functions
 Structural
 Contractile
 Storage
 Defense
 Transport
 Signaling
 Catalysts
Chapter 5 Page 6: Proteins

Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein
There are 20 amino acids, 9 are essential = must eat
them we cannot synthesize
 Polypeptides are many amino acids joined together


The function of a protein depends on its chemical
structure and unique 3-D shape
Chapter 5 Page 8: Levels of Protein
Structure

Primary Structure: Unique sequence of amino acids:
sequence is determined by genetic material

Secondary Structure: coiling /folding as a result of
hydrogen bonding

Tertiary Structure: 3-D shape due to bonding of R- groups

Quaternary Structure: association of 2 or more
polypeptides; Ex HGB ; not all have this level
Chaperons/Chaperonins

What level of structure was being formed in
the previous picture?

What predominantly holds this level
together?
The “Blue Gene” Computer

IBM has a project

They hope to be able to take any amino acid
sequence and produce a computer generation of
the folded protein

Currently there are no computers powerful
enough to do this
Chapter 5 Page : Denaturation
 Denaturation
means the protein structure is
destroyed
 Causes of denaturation include:
heat
pH
chemicals
Salt concentrations
Chapter 5 Page : Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins used to speed up chemical
reactions = Catalysts

They are not consumed or converted in the
reactions

In Ch 8 we will go into more detail
Chaapter5 Page : Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids carry information
Function is to store and transmit heritable information

DNA = carries all codes for life; double stranded

RNA = protein synthesis

Nucleotides/Nucleic Acids are composed of:
 Nitrogenous Base:ATGC
 Pentose = 5 Carbon sugar
 Phosphate group
 In DNA A pairs with T ; G with C

Nucleic Acids are the building
blocks of protein
A.
B.
True
False
What macromolecule could be made
from H, C, NH2,COOH, R
A.
B.
C.
D.
lipid
nucleic acid
carbohydrate
Amino acid