Biomolecules

What molecules keep us alive, and how

do they do so?
 Open to the next available page in
your journal and construct this chart
Title: Biomolecules
Biomolec Monom Function Example Made up
ule er s of:
Carbohydr
ate
Lipid

Proteins

Nucleic
Acids
 Biomolecules

• All living organisms require several

compounds to continue to live.
• We call these compounds biomolecules.
All of these biomolecules are organic,
which means that they contain carbon.
• Carbon has four valence electrons, which
means this element forms strong covalent
bonds with many other elements.
 Let’s get started!!
Amoeba sisters and Biomolecules
 Biomolecules
• All of our biomolecules are classified
into four groups:
• Carbohydrates
• Lipids
• Proteins
• Nucleic Acids
• Each of these classes have different
structures and functions.
 Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are formed by joining

many small units together to form a
long chain.
• This process is called synthesis.
Often, a water molecule is removed
in the process.
• When this happens, we call it
dehydration synthesis.
 Building up polymers
Dehydration Synthesis
• Creates a polymer from a
biomolecules monomers.
• In this process, an OH and H are
removed (water) during synthesis of a
new molecule.

8
 Breaking down polymers

• Hydrolysis breaks a covalent bond by

adding OH and H from a water
molecule.

Biological molecules 10
Dehydration vs.
Hydrolysis
 Biomolecules
• The smallest functioning unit of a biomolecule is a
monomer.
• “Mono-” means ONE.
• Put two monomers together, and you get a dimer.
• Di-” means TWO.
• Once several monomers are put together, we get a
polymer.
• “Poly-” means MANY.
 Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates
are biomolecules
used for energy
and structural
support.
• Breaking
carbohydrates
down provides
an organism with
energy.
 Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates are • Monomer:

made up of carbon, Monosaccharide
hydrogen and oxygen.
• Dimer:
• The ratio of these
Disaccharide
elements is roughly
1 carbon: 2 hydrogen :1 • Polymer:
oxygen. Polysaccharide
C6H12O6
 Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are
primarily used to
provide us with energy.
• All monosaccharides
and disaccharides
end in “-ose”.
• Glucose is used as a
common energy source
for most organisms.
Carbohydrates

• There are many

other types of
carbs in nature:
• Fructose (fruit
sugar)
• Lactose (milk
sugar)
• Sucrose (table
sugar)
• Ribose/Deoxyribos
e (important for
DNA and RNA)
 Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates can be
bonded to each other
through dehydration
synthesis.
• Remember, that’s
when water is lost as
two smaller molecules
bond to form a larger
molecule.
Carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates

• When we have
excess carbs, we
store them as
starches, which are
polysaccharides.
• Starches are long
chains of carbs.
• Plants also use
cellulose (another
polysaccharide) for
structural support.
 Carbohydrates
• Indicators are
chemicals that
detect the presence
of a certain
compound.
• Benedict’s
solution reacts
with MOST mono-
and disaccharides.
• Sucrose is a notable
exception!
 Carbohydrates
• If a detectable carbohydrate is
present, then the indicator changes
color, based on how many carbs are
present.
• Green → Yellow → Orange →
Red
 Carbohydrates

• Iodine is used to
detect starch,
since it reacts
readily with
starch.
• This reaction
produces a
purple-black
coloration.
 Lipids

• Lipids are used for four

crucial purposes:
• Storing energy
• Waterproof barriers
• Chemical
messengers
• Insulation
 Lipids

• Lipids are made up • Most common lipids

of carbon, are composed of two
hydrogen and different functional
oxygen. groups:
• The ratio of these • Glycerol, an alcohol
elements is roughly with three oxygen
1carbon: 2 groups.
hydrogen. Oxygen • Fatty acids, which
is present only in are long hydrocarbon
trace amounts. chains.
 Lipids

• ALL lipids repel

water, due to how
hydrophobic
they are. This
means that they
do not bond to
water molecules.
 Lipids

• Lipids are grouped by the

number of double bonds
found in the hydrocarbon
chain.
• Saturated fats have the
maximum number of
hydrogen atoms possible,
and as such, they have no
double bonds.
• They tend to be solid
at room temperature.
 Lipids

• Unsaturated fats • Monounsaturate

have double bonds. d fats have only
They do NOT have ONE double bond.
the maximum
possible number of • Polyunsaturated
hydrogen atoms. fats have MORE
THAN ONE double
• They tend to be
liquid at room
bond in the
temperature. hydrocarbon chain.
 Lipids

Monounsaturated Polyunsaturated
Lipids

• It’s important to
note that fats are
a specific type of
lipid.
• Chemically, all
fats are
triglycerides –
they have three
fatty acids bonded
to one glycerol
molecule.
 Lipids

• Steroids are
lipids with four
rings bonded
together.
• Steroids are vital
as hormones,
which are
chemical signals
used in the body.
 Lipids

• Oily and fatty foods • We can also use

ethanol, which
tend to leave stains dissolves lipids.
upon contact.
• The dissolved fats are
• This is why we then diluted with water.
Since water and lipids
can use brown don’t mix, the lipids
paper to detect come out of solution.
fats. • This creates an
emulsion – a milky,
cloudy liquid.
 Protein
• Proteins serve many
vital functions in the
body:
• Structural support
• Enzymes (Speeding
up chemical
reactions)
• Transport of
molecules
• Fighting infection
 Protein

• All proteins • Monomer: Amino

contain carbon, acid
hydrogen, oxygen • Polymer: Protein
and nitrogen. or polypeptide
• In addition, sulfur • A peptide is a
may be present as chain of amino
well. acids, so a
polypeptide is
several chains
put together.
 Protein

• ALL amino acids

contain an amino
or N-group. It
contains nitrogen
(N).
• ALL amino acids
also contain a
carboxyl or C-
group. It contains
carbon (C).
 Protein

• However, amino
acids also have a
variable group
or R-group. This
differs from one
amino acid to the
next.
• There are 20
standard amino
acids, and thus 20
possible R-groups.
Protein

• Amino acids are

bound together
through
dehydration
synthesis.
• The C-group of
one amino acid
binds to the N-
group of another.
• We call these
bonds peptide
bonds.
 Protein
• Proteins can also
function as
hormones.
• However, protein
hormones tend to
have difficulty passing
the cell membrane.
• As such, many
protein hormones
have to fit a cellular
receptor before they
can affect the cell.
 Protein Production
• Proteins have four phases of production:
• Primary: Amino acids are bound
together.
• Secondary: Individual amino acids are
bent and molded as needed.
• Tertiary: The entire chain of amino
acids is bent and molded as needed,
forming a sub-unit.
• Quaternary: Multiple completed sub-
units are fitted together to make a
 Protein Test
Indicator
• The Biuret test
is used to detect
protein.
• The test relies on
a color change to
confirm the
presence of
proteins. If
proteins are
found, the
sample will turn
 Hydrolysis

• Hydrolysis is the reverse process of

dehydration synthesis.
• In dehydration synthesis, water is lost to
create a bigger molecule.
• In hydrolysis, water is ADDED, and a
bigger molecule is broken down into
smaller pieces.
• Hydrolysis = hydro and lysis. Hydro means
water, and lysis means to break down.
 Nucleic Acids
• Nucleic acids are
biomolecules that
contain the blueprints
for making proteins.
Nucleic acids also
transmit genetic info
to the next
generation.
• Includes:
• DNA
• RNA
 Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids • Monomer:

contain carbon, Nucleotides
hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen, • Polymer:
and phosphorus. Nucleic Acid
• Remember the • Examples:
acronym: DNA, RNA
CHONP!
 Nucleic Acids
Monomer- Nucleotide
• A nucleotide is
made up of three
parts:
• 5-carbon sugar
• Phosphate
group
• Nitrogenous
base
 Nucleic Acids

• The 5-carbon sugar

is deoxyribose, in
the case of DNA.
• However, it is ribose
in the case of RNA.
• This is how those
molecules got their
name!
 Nucleic Acids

• As stated earlier, nucleic acids are the

blueprints for proteins. Proteins are
made from these templates.
• Also, DNA can be passed on from parent
to child. This allows SOME
characteristics to be passed down to
offspring. These traits are considered
hereditary.
• RNA can NOT be passed down to
GUIDE QUESTIONS
1.Make a short synthesis of the lesson
2. What differentiates the biomolecules from each other?
3. What elements are the main constituents of living
organisms?
4. What composes the general structure of amino acids?
5. Give the biological significance of the following:
a. carbohydrates
b. lipids
c. protein
d. nucleic acid
6. What is dehydration synthesis? How does it differ from
hydrolysis?