Module 6 [ 4th Quarter Science – 10 ]

Topic: Lipids, Protein and Nucleic Acids Time Frame: Week 6

I. LESSON OVERVIEW

In the previous lesson, you have learned one of the categories of biomolecules, carbohydrate, including its
classifications. Also, you have learned that carbohydrates play a crucial role in the survival of living organisms. This
time, in this module, you will study another category of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. As
such, through this module, you will explore the structures and importance of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Define and describe another category of biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
2. Distinguish lipids from proteins, and nucleic acids, including their structures.
3. State the classification of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.
4. Give some biological functions of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

II. CONCEPT/S TO BE LEARNED

Lipids

Lipids are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen but contain much less oxygen in proportion to carbon and
hydrogen than those found in carbohydrates. Lipids generally have greasy and oily consistency. The most common
lipids in animals are fats.
A molecule of fat is composed of two basic units – glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol is a sugar containing three
hydroxyl ( - OH ) groups. Fatty acids are molecules composed of a long chain of carbon atoms with a carboxyl group
( COO ⁻ ) at one end. Fat molecules vary in the kind and number of fatty acids present. Because fat molecules have
three fatty acids, they are also called triglycerides.
Some fats are solid at ordinary temperature, like butter, lard, and animal fats. These are referred to as saturated
fats. A diet rich in saturated fats may contribute to cardiovascular diseases by promoting a condition called
atherosclerosis. It results from the build – up of fats on the inside of blood vessels, which reduces blood flow and
may cause hypertension.
Fats that remain liquid at room temperature are called unsaturated fats. Corn oil, olive oil, and other vegetable
oils are examples of this type of fats. They are not harmful to one’s health. The label “hydrogenated” vegetable oils”
on margarine means that unsaturated fats have been converted to saturated fats by adding hydrogen atoms.
Lipids have the following functions in an organism’s body:
 To provide more than twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates;
 To form part of an important structural component of the plasma membrane , nuclear membrane, and the
inner membrane of the nerve fiber;
 To provide for a longer term storage of fuel and a more economical form for storage of food reserves; and
 To serve as insulators against loss of body heat.

Classifications of lipids

Aquatic mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals have thick layers of fats called blubbers that insulate body
heat. In in the human body, the layer of fats underneath the skin also serves this purpose at the same time keeping
the skin’s tone and firmness.
Phospholipids are structurally similar to fats but contain the element phosphorus and only two molecules of
fatty acids instead of three. They are important parts of the biological molecules in the cell membrane.
Waxes are composed of one fatty acid linked to along chain of alcohol molecules. They do not mix with water
and are said to be more hydrophobic ( water fearing ) than fats. These characteristics make them effective natural
coatings for fruits. Many insects also have waxy coats that prevent them from drying out.
Steroids are naturally occurring lipid – soluble molecules. A type of steroid that is an important component of
the animal cell membrane is cholesterol. It helps maintain fluidity in the plasma. A high concentration of cholesterol
in the blood may contribute to atherosclerosis. Cholesterol also serves as precursor in the synthesis of other
steroids, including hormones.
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 Proteins
The word protein came from the Greek word proteis, meaning “ first place”, which suggests the importance of
these molecules in the living system. Proteins are the most diverse in structure and function among organic
compounds. The diversity of proteins is due to the different arrangement of amino acids, the building blocks of
proteins is due to the different arrangement of amino, the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid contains an
amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain called the R group ( figure below ). Amino acids are linked together
in a protein through peptide bonds. A peptide bond is formed between the amino group of amino acid and the
carboxyl group of the next amino acid.

There are eight classes of proteins according to function:

a. Structural proteins - form of an organism structures. Examples the silk fibers that insects and spiders use to
make cocoons and web keratin in hair, horns, and feathers collages and elastin in tendons and ligaments.
b. Contractile proteins - are involved in movements examples are actin and myosin , which are responsible for
movement’s muscles.
c. A storages protein serves as nitrogen sources for the developing embryo examples ovalbumin which is found in
eggs.
d. Defensive proteins protect against diseases included antibodies which are found in the blood and combat
bacteria and viruses.
e. Transport proteins involved in transporting others substances included hemoglobin the iron containing protein
in the blood which transport oxygen to others parts of the body
f. Hormonal proteins - help coordinate activities in an organism’s body examples insulin that regulates sugar
concentrations in the blood.
g. Receptor proteins - enables the cells to respond to chemical stimuli examples receptors in a nerve cells
membrane which detect chemical signal from others nerve cells.
h. Catalytic proteins - also called enzymes help speed up chemical processes within the cells without necessarily
affecting the products of reactions examples are digestives enzymes.

Enzymes are said to be very specific with regards to the chemicals reaction they catalyze and the molecules upon
which they act, which are called the substrates. This is because of the contact amino acids on the surfaces of the
enzymes molecules called active sites that recognizes and reacts sites is referred to as the lock and key model for
enzymes reactions.

Nucleic Acids

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 Nucleic acids are biomolecules that serves as the blueprints for proteins that ultimately control the chemical
processes in a cell. A Nucleic acid is a singles stranded (RNA) or the double stranded (DNA) molecules made of
nucleotides units. A nucleotide is composed of five carbon sugar a phosphates group and a nitrogen containing base
pair. The sugar presents in DNA is deoxyribose, while in RNA the sugar presents is ribosomes. Attached to the sugar
group is a nitrogen base which can be a purine base adenine, guanine, or a pyramided base thymine, cytosine, uracil). In
a RNA molecules the bases presents are adenine, uracil, guanine, and cytosine. A DNA molecules has the same bases
accepts for uracil it has thymine instead. Adenine can form hydrogen bonds base pair with thymine instead. Adenine can
form hydrogen bonds base pairs with thymine or uracil and guanine with cytosine

In both the RNA and DNA molecules, covalent bond exists between the sugar group of one nucleotides and the
phosphates group of the next.

The DNA molecules consists of two polynucleotides strands wrapped around each other and are twisted like a
ladder in a structures called double helix. The two strands of DNA molecules are held together by hydrogen bonds
between their base pairs. The DNA is the hereditary material that organisms in hits from their parents. These sequences
of nitrogenous bases in the DNA carry the genetics information called genes. The DNA also directs and controls the
syntheses are of proteins in the cells. It is referred to as the key of life for it carriers the information that directs all
cellular activities.

An RNA molecules consist of a single polynucleotides strands ( figure below ). It assists and carries out the
information dictated and encoded by the DNA particularly in protein synthesis.

III. GENERALIZATION
 Lipids are compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and include fats and phospholipids. They
provide energy; form part of a structural component of the plasma and nuclear membranes; provide an
economical form for storage of reserved food and energy; and act as body insulators.
 Proteins are composed of amino acids. There are eight classes of proteins according to functions: structural
contractile, storage, defensive, transport, signal, hormonal and catalytic.
 Nucleic acids are biomolecules composed of nucleotides, each of which contains a sugar group, a phosphate
group, and a nitrogen base. Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA ) is a double – stranded nucleic acid and is the
hereditary material controlling synthesis of proteins in the cell. Ribonucleic acid ( RNA ) is a single – stranded
nucleic acid that carries out the information in the DNA.
REFERENCES:
1. K – 12 Curriculum. Science Learners Materials for Grade – 10 Learners. DepEd, Philippines.
2. Biology Textbook “Breaking Through Biology” by Susan D. Manosa and Frederick T. Talaue. C & E
Publishing, Inc. Quezon City, Philippines.

IV. WORKSHEET
A. Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. The biomolecules that serve as the blueprints for proteins that ultimately control the chemical processes in cell
is called________.
a. Nucleic acids b. DNA c. RNA d. proteins
2. The _________ molecule consists of two polynucleotides ( strands ).
a. Proteins b. lipids c. RNA d. DNA

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3. Which type of lipids is a biological component of the cell membrane?
a. Fats b. waxes c. phospholipids d. steroids
4. The basic units of protein molecules are the _____.
a. Amino acids b. nucleic acids c. fatty acids d. enzymes
5. Which class proteins fights off the invasion by bacteria and viruses in the body?
a. Signal proteins b. catalytic proteins c. structural proteins d. defensive proteins
6. Which of the following does not belong to the group?
a. waxes b. steroids c. phospholipids d. saccharin
7. _________ are proteins that help speed up chemical processes in the body.
a. Antibodies b. receptors c. enzymes d. hormones
8. Which of the following nitrogenous bases is not a component of DNA?
a. Adenine b. guanine c. thymine d. uracil
9. ________ is a sugar containing three hydroxyl ( - OH ) groups.
a. Fatty acid b. glycerol c. lipid d. nucleic acid
10. Lipids, generally, have greasy and oily consistency.
a. True b. false
B. Fill in the table by comparing the following biomolecules/ compound

Biomolecule/ Basic Unit Biological Function/ Importance

Compound
Lipids

Proteins

Nucleic
Acids

C. ESSAY / DISCUSSION
1. Briefly distinguish lipids from proteins and nucleic acids.

D. Enumeration

1 – 3 [ Classification of lipids ] 4 - 11 [ Classes of Proteins ]

12 – 13 [ Types of nucleic acids ] 14 - 15 [ bunos ]