Types of Biomolecules

Biomolecules are primarily classified into 4 types, namely:

Carbohydrates
Polysaccharides, commonly known as carbohydrates are macromolecules. They are made up of
monosaccharides (sugar molecules). Majority of living cells are rich in carbohydrates and they are
the final products of many metabolic processes. For example, Glucose is the final product of
photosynthesis. Carbohydrates can be monosaccharide, disaccharide, polysaccharide etc. based on
the number of sugar molecules they are made up of.
Proteins
Proteins are polymers, made up of monomeric units of 20 amino acids. Amino acids are linked
together in a specific sequence by peptide bonds to form long polypeptide chains. Amino acids are
substituted methane, where a central C is linked to an amino group, carboxylic group, hydrogen and
different R groups. R group varies in different amino acids. E.g. Glycine contains H as a side chain,
Alanine has -CH3 as R group, etc. Protein contains 20 amino acids, of which 11 are non-essential
and 9 are essential, i.e. to be supplemented in the diet.
Lipids
Lipids are a macromolecule, which is water-insoluble. Lipids include fats, oils, wax, phospholipids,
steroids, etc. Fatty acids are the most simple lipids, they contain carboxylic acids with long-chain
variable R group, which can be saturated or unsaturated. Fatty acids form triglycerides after
combining with glycerol, which is trihydroxy propane. Phospholipids are the main constituents of the
cell membrane. Phospholipids are made up of two hydrophobic fatty acid tails and a hydrophilic
head consisting phosphate group.
Nucleic Acids
The genetic material present in all the living organisms and viruses is DNA and RNA, which are
nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are polymer of nucleotides. Each nucleotide contains a nitrogenous
base, sugar and a terminal phosphate group. Nitrogenous bases are of two types: pyrimidines and
purines. A base linked with sugar (deoxyribose in DNA and ribose in RNA) is known as a nucleotide.
Nucleoside joins to a phosphate group to form nucleotides. These nucleotides are bonded together
by phosphodiester linkage to form nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.
The human body consists of trillions of cells which are made up of carbohydrates, proteins and other
biomolecules. Majority of cell activities depend on them.
Answer the following:

1. What are the 6 essential elements?

2. What are the elements present in carbohydrates?
3. What are the elements present in proteins?
4. What are the elements present in lipids?
5. What are the elements present in nucleic acids?
6. Give the four nitrogen bases.
7. Draw the structural formula of: carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids?
8. What is the difference between RNA and DNA?