Overview

Unit 2: Biological Molecules

Topics:

Synthesis of Biological Molecules

Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this Unit, you will be able to:

1. Describe how biological molecules are made and broken down.

2. Describe the nature of carbohydrates.
3. Describe the nature of lipids.
4. Describe the nature of proteins.
5. Describe the nature of nucleic acids.

Tasks:

Peer-assess Unit #1 Written Assignment

Read through the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment
Complete the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum
Respond to three of your fellow classmates’ posts in the Discussion Forum
Make entries in the Learning Journal
Take and submit the Self-Quiz
 Introduction

As you know, organic molecules are distinguished from inorganic molecules based on the presence of carbon. Carbon’s properties
allow a large variety of molecules to be formed. Organic molecules can more commonly be referred to as biological molecules.
Proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids are the four major classes of biological macromolecules. These are all large
molecules necessary for life. Each are built from smaller organic molecules.

How are macromolecules formed and broken down?

Macromolecules are made up of single units known as monomers that are joined by covalent bonds to form larger polymers (Biology,
2013). Monomers form covalent bonds with each other with the release of a water molecule. These synthesis reactions are referred to
as dehydration or condensation reactions. When polymers are broken down into smaller units, a molecule of water is used for each
bond broken. These degradation reactions are referred to as hydrolysis reactions. Dehydration and hydrolysis reactions are similar for
all four types of biological macromolecules, but each monomer and polymer reaction is specific to its class. Dehydration reactions
require energy as a new bond is formed. Hydrolysis reactions release energy as covalent bonds are broken.

What’s in a biological molecule?

Each of the four types of macromolecules is composed of unique monomers/building blocks and thus unique chemical properties.
Carbohydrate monomers are monosaccharides; e.g., glucose and fructose. Monosaccharides form disaccharides; e.g., glucose and
fructose combine to form table sugar – sucrose. Much larger polysaccharides include the energy storage molecules of starch and
glycogen.

Lipids are nonpolar and, therefore, no water soluble – hydrophobic. Major types include fats and oils, waxes, phospholipids, and
steroids. Fats serve as an efficient energy store and are referred to as triglycerides. Each fat is composed of fatty acid chains and either
glycerol or sphingosine backbone. Phospholipids make up the bulk of cellular membranes. Like fats, they have a glycerol or
sphingosine backbone to which two fatty acid chains bind. The difference lies in a phosphate-containing group attached to the
backbone. As phosphate is charged, the phospholipid molecule is amphipathic – both hydrophobic and hydrophilic. All steroids are
synthesized from cholesterol and thus contain carbon rings rather than a linear structure. Cholesterol along with phospholipids can be
found in cell membranes where it helps to maintain the fluid nature of the membrane.

Proteins are composed of amino acids of which there are 20 biologically relevant. Each amino acid has an nitrogen-containing amino
group, a carboxylic acid, and a “R” group which makes the amino acid unique. Each amino acid is linked to its neighbors by a peptide
bond. A long chain of amino acids is known as a polypeptide. Proteins are organized at four levels: primary, secondary, tertiary, and
quaternary.

Nucleic acids include DNA and RNA – our genetic material. Nucleic acids are synthesized from nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a
pentose sugar (ribose or deoxyribose), a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. DNA carries the genetic blueprint of the cell and
is passed on from parents to offspring. It has a double-helical structure with the two strands running in opposite directions,
connected by hydrogen bonds, and complementary to each other. RNA is single-stranded and is made of a pentose sugar (ribose), a
nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group. RNA is involved in protein synthesis and its regulation.

Biology from Openstax College (2013) from Rice University retrieved from http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-
f14f21b5eabd@9.85:1
 Reading Assignment

This week's reading is Chapter 3 (Biological Molecules) of the course textbook, which is accessible through the Syllabus or through
the course's "Textbooks" page.

Video Resources

 If you are having difficulties grasping particular concepts from the textbook or if you want to explore them more in detail, watch
these videos about macromolecules from Khan Academy. 

Khan Academy. (2015, July 10). Molecular structure of glucose | Macromolecules | Biology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 

Molecular structure of glucose | Macro…

Macro…

Khan Academy. (2015, July 10). Dehydration synthesis or a condensation reaction | Biology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 

Dehydration synthesis or a condensati…

condensati…

Khan Academy. (2015, July 13). Hydrolysis | Macromolecules | Biology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 
 Hydrolysis | Macromolecules | Biology |…
|…

Khan Academy. (2015, July 14). Lipid overview | Macromolecules | Biology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 

Lipid overview | Macromolecules | Biol…

Biol…

Khan Academy. (2014, December 10). DNA | Biomolecules | MCAT | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 

DNA | Biomolecules | MCAT | Khan Aca…

Aca…

Khan Academy. (2015, July 17). Overview of protein structure | Macromolecules | Biology | Khan Academy [Video]. YouTube. 
Overview of protein structure | Macrom…
Macrom…
 Discussion Assignment

In your assigned readings, you learned about biological molecule synthesis and degradation. Our cells are busy both building and
breaking down macromolecules for both structural and functional purposes. Enzymes are necessary for the effective synthesis and
degradation of macromolecules. Metabolic diseases result from either the lack of or defective enzymes. For this discussion, you will
select a specific metabolic disorder. Describe the defect in metabolism responsible for the disorder identifying any enzyme(s)
involved. Analyze the symptoms of the disease based on the metabolic disturbance. Discuss therapy available for treatment of the
disorder. Does the therapy treat the symptoms or the metabolic nature of the disease? Explain.

Be sure to use in text citation and provide references for your sources. While not required for this discussion, you may use outside
resources. Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the APA style guidelines  Purdue University’s Online Writing
LAB (OWL) is a free website that provides excellent information and resources for understanding and using the APA format and style.
The OWL website can be accessed here: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

After posting your discussion on the forum, briefly comment in a constructive manner to at least three of your peer's
postings. In your comments, you may for instance refer to how your own experience supports/contradicts the opinions developed by
your peers. You may also ask for more detailed examples supporting these opinions, if you think they are too general or not rooted
enough in personal experience. In particular, make sure that the examples provided are properly referenced and that you are able to
access them. Overall, your comments should contribute positively to the conversation by broadening or clarifying it.

Discussion Forum Rating Guidelines:

10 (A) - Excellent, substantial, relevant, insightful, enriching, and stimulating contribution to the discussion. Also, uses external
resources to support position where required and/or applicable.

8 - 9 (B) - Good, quite substantial and insightful, but missing minor details which would have otherwise characterized it as an
excellent response.
6 - 7 (C) - Satisfactory insight and relevance, but required some more information and effort to have warranted a better rating.
4 - 5 (D) - Limited insight and relevance of the material; more effort and reflection needed to have warranted a satisfactory grading.

0 - 3 (F) - Unsatisfactory insight/relevance or failure to answer the question, reflecting a poor or limited understanding of the subject
matter and/or the guidelines of the question.
 Learning Journal

Grading: Answers should be concise and well written. Make sure you correctly explain your thought process and provide all the
necessary information.

Assignment: Create a table comparing the four major biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Your table must include the following elements: monomer building blocks, nature of monomer, specific examples (more than one),
specific functions (more than one). You can create a table using MS Word. The more you put into this table, the better prepared you
will be for the quiz.

Submit this table in your Learning Journal.

 Self-Quiz

The Self-Quiz gives you an opportunity to self-assess your knowledge of what you have learned so far.

The results of the Self-Quiz do not count towards your final grade, but the quiz is an important part of the University’s learning
process and it is expected that you will take it to ensure understanding of the materials presented. Reviewing and analyzing your
results will help you perform better on future Graded Quizzes and the Final Exam.

Please access the Self-Quiz on the main course homepage; it will be listed inside the Unit.
 Checklist

Read through the Learning Guide and the Reading Assignment

Complete the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum

Respond to three of your fellow classmates’ posts in the Discussion Forum

Make entry in Learning Journal

Take and submit the Self-Quiz