BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES

INTRODUCTION:

We cannot comprehend the mystery of life if we do not have a little background of chemistry.
Chemistry makes us understand that the components of living organisms are from the organic molecules
which are carbon-based molecules. It means that molecules are made up of one or more carbon atoms.
The branch of chemistry that deals with carbon-based molecules is ORGANIC CHEMISTRY while
BIOCHEMISTRY deals with the chemical organization, processes and composition of living thing.

Take a look at table 3.1 for the percentage of elements in the human body

TABLE 3.1 – PERCENTAGE OF

ELEMENTS COMPRISING THE
HUMAN BODY

Web source:

https://askabiologist.asu.edu/content/atoms-life

The table indicates that 65% in our human body has oxygen, 18.5 % carbon, 9.5% hydrogen and 3.2%
nitrogen; these 4 elements make up 96.2% of human body weight.

Every living organism is made up of cells, the very tiny units of life. Within the cells are organic
molecules which joined to form larger molecule. These large molecules are called macromolecules. In
this topic, the structure of these macromolecules will be given emphasis. The students will then explain
how the structure affects the properties and functions of macromolecules.

INSTRUCTION:

Any combination and proportion of the major atoms found in the human body; carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, and nitrogen (C, H, O, N) can make various types of simple organic molecules. Most large
biological molecules are polymers, long chains made up of repeating molecular subunits, or building
blocks, called monomers. If you think of a monomer as being like a bead, then you can think of a
polymer as being like a necklace, a series of beads strung together.

Macromolecules are formed by joining smaller subunits of molecule. Macromolecules found in

living things are generally categorized into four:

1. CARBOHYDRATES
 Carbohydrates are found in a wide array of both healthy and unhealthy foods—bread, beans, milk,
popcorn, potatoes, cookies, spaghetti, soft drinks, corn, and cherry pie. They also come in a variety of
forms. The most common and abundant forms are sugars, fibers, and starches. It provides a quick source
of energy. Glucose (sugar) is the main source of structural and energy for cells. Sugars contain carbon,
hydrogen and oxygen (C6H12O6 for glucose). Three types of sugar: Monosaccharide and disaccharides
are the most basic forms of carbohydrates and called simple sugars; Polysaccharides composed many
sugars.

Monosaccharide contains only one sugar

unit. There are 3 important types of monosaccharide
in nutrition: Glucose – used for energy or stored as
glycogen; Fructose – (fruit sugar) is converted to
glucose or stored as fat; Galactose – found in milk.

All forms of monosaccharides have the same chemical

C6H12O6 but they have different structures as shown in
fig. 3.1.

Disaccharide contains two simple sugars.

There are 3 important types of disaccharides in
nutrition: Maltose– formed from two glucose
molecules, it occurs in sprouted grains which have higher nutrient content compare to ordinary flour;
Sucrose – formed from glucose and fructose molecules bonded together, it is natural occurring sugar in
60-
fruits and vegetables; Lactose – formed from glucose and galactose molecule bonded together, mostly
found in dairy products.

Like monosaccharide, forms of disaccharides have the same general formula of C 12H22O11 but they
have different structures as shown in figure 3.2

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates contain many sugars.

There are 3 main polysaccharides: Starch - is made up of long chains of
glucose, it is the storage form of carbohydrates in plants. Star; Glycogen –
branched structure of glucose, it is the storage form of carbohydrates in
animals; Fiber – composed from non starch polysaccharides that are
components of plant cell walls, including cellulose and pectins, fibers are
indigestible and it doesn’t give us calories!

34c
Figure 3.3 – Structures of Polysaccharides
ml Web source: https://content.byui.edu/file/a236934c-3c60-4fe9-90aa-d343b3e3a640/1/
module3/readings/carbohydrates.html
Polysaccharides have the same general chemical formula C 6H10O5 but different in structure as shown in
fig. 3.3.

2. PROTEINS

The term protein is from the Greek word proteios or “primary”. These molecules appear in very
diverse structures. Proteins are composed of hydrogen, carbon, oxygen and sometimes sulfur. Proteins
are linear polymers built of monomer units called amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds that
combine to form proteins. Amino acids and proteins are the building blocks of life. When proteins are
digested or broken down, amino acids are left.

There are many types of essential amino acids, including:

a. Lysine –helps in building muscle maintaining bone strength, aiding recovery from injury or surgery,
and regulating hormones, antibodies, and enzymes. It may also have antiviral effects.

b. Threonine – (pronounce as three – uh – neen) is necessary for healthy skin and teeth, as it is a
component in tooth enamel, collagen, and elastin.

c. Methionine – (pronounce as meh – thee – ow – neen) helps keeps skin and hair healthy as well as
our nails.

d. Leucine - helps regulate blood sugar levels and aids the growth and repair of muscle and bone.

e. Tryptophan - is necessary for proper growth in infants and is a precursor of serotonin and melatonin.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates appetite, sleep, mood, and pain. Melatonin also regulates
sleep.

PROTEINS have 2 most important functions:

1. Structural proteins – are the proteins that are generally fibrous and stringy. They are the most
abundant class of proteins in nature. Their main function is to provide mechanical support. Examples of
structural proteins can be keratin, collagen, and elastin.

2. Catalytic proteins – proteins that act as catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that can be added to a
reaction to increase the reaction rate without getting consumed in the process. Enzymes are proteins
that act as catalysts in biochemical reactions. Common types of catalysts include enzymes, acid-base
catalysts, and heterogeneous (or surface) catalysts.

3. LIPIDS

Lipids are biological compounds that consist of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Lipids are nonpolar
in nature, lipids are insoluble in water but soluble in some alcohol. Lipids are fatty, waxy, or oily
compounds that are soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in polar solvents such as water. Lipids
include:
  Fats and oils (triglycerides) - Fats and oils are both made of one part called glycerol attached
to three other parts called fatty acids.
o Saturated fats – are fatty acids which all of the carbon-carbon bond are single bonded,
they are solid in room temperature. Saturated fats are mostly from bacon, meat oils, sour
cream and butter. Saturated fats must limit in our diet because they can contribute to heart
diseases due to plaque deposition in arteries.
o Unsaturated fats – are fatty acids formed from at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
They are liquid in room temperature. They are from the plant and fish fats known as oils
and they are good for our body.

 Phospholipids - is a type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell membrane.
Phospholipids are crucial for building the protective barrier, or membrane, around your body's
cells. Eggs, organ meats, lean meats, fish, shellfish, cereal grains and oilseeds are good sources of
phospholipids.

 Waxes – are consist of a long-chain fatty acid linked with alcohol rather than glycerols. These
molecules form protective coatings on the leaves of plants and the skins of animals.

 Steroids – are lipids because they are hydrophobic and insoluble in water, but they do not
resemble lipids. Cholesterol is the most common steroid. Steroids play roles in reproduction,
absorption, metabolism and brain activity.

4. NUCLEIC ACIDS

Nucleic acid is an important class of macromolecules found in all cells and viruses. Nucleic acids
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. Nucleic acids are formed by repeated dehydration
synthesis reactions between nucleotides. A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids.

The two main classes of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid have two strands that twisted around an imaginary axis to form double
helix. DNA contains the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. To carry
out these functions, DNA sequences must be converted into messages that can be used to produce
proteins, which are the complex molecules that do most of the work in our bodies.

RNA - ribonucleic acid has only one strand and formed from single polynucleotide chain. The primary role
of RNA is to convert the information stored in DNA into proteins.

SUMMARY

 Biological macromolecules are large, organic molecule such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
and nucleic acids.
 Monomer is a molecule that is a building block for larger molecules (polymers). For example, an
amino acid acts as the building blocks for proteins.
 C, H, O, N – these are the abundant elements in our body.
 Carbohydrates provide quick energy
 Lipids are fatty acids and glycerol that provide cells with long-term energy, make up biological
membranes.
  Proteins are composed of amino acids that provide cell structure, send chemical signals, speed up
chemical reactions, etc
 Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides, nucleic acids store and pass on genetic information.
Web sources:

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324229#essential-amino-acids
2. https://media.lanecc.edu/users/powellt/FN225OER/Carbohydrates/FN225Carbohydrates2.
html#:~:text=There%20are%203%20monosaccharides%3A,Galactose
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK525952/#:~:text=Lipids%20are%20fatty %2C%20waxy%2C
%20or,Phospholipids

ASSESSMENT 3 TOPIC 3: BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES

For category 1 – write your answer in a clean short bond paper or one whole intermediate paper. Do not
forget to write your name and section. For category 2 – Use word document application or do the same
with cat 1 just take a photo of it and submit it to our google classroom.

A. For items 1 and 2, refer to this table

1. What are the elements you notice in the structures? ___________________

2. What do you notice with the carbon: hydrogen: oxygen (C: H: O) ratio in each structure? (Note:
To answer these count the number of C, H, and O in each structure.
3. Draw a venn diagram showing the similarities and differences between the glucose, galactose and
fructose. (15points)
4. Draw a venn diagram showing the similarities and differences between monosaccharide,
disaccharide, and polysaccharide. (15points)
B. PERFORMANCE TASK
Make a poster using different types of coloring materials in 1/8 illustration board. Choose
one of the macromolecules that you think is the most essential for our body. You will be scored base
on the criteria below.
Creativity and presentation 40%
Originality 30%
Relevance to the theme 30%
 100%
Separate 20 points for the brief description of your artwork at the back. (max 5 sentences)