Biology | Biomolecules and Metabolic Disorders
Lecture Notes for STEM Track (2019)
Four Main Types of Biomolecules CARBOHYDRATES
1. Carbohydrates - ratio of carbon to hydrogen to
2. Lipids oxygen is 1:2:1
3. Proteins - Can be presented by the
4. Nucleic Acids stoichiometric formula [CH2O]n
where n is the number of carbon in
Biomolecules the molecule
- Are large molecules that are usually
made up of many repeating units Classified into three types based on the
called monomers. carbon chain’s LENGTH
- Polymer is what you call a large
molecule made up of more than ten 1. Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
monomers. Subunits: One
Examples: Glucose, Galactose, Fructose,
Polymerization: Monomers attach Main Function: Energy Source
themselves to tother monomers to form Mnemonic: Gives Good Flavor
polymers via dehydration synthesis or
condensation reaction These are simple sugars, with the most
common one being glucose. Most
Hydrolysis monosaccharide names end with the
- polymers are broken down into suffix -ose.
monomers through a reaction where
a water molecule is utilized during the
TYPES OF MONOSACCHARIDE
breakdown
Hexoses
- The hydrolysis of macromolecules is - 6 carbon atoms
completed with the help of catalysts
- C6H12O6 (molecular formula)
called enzymes
- The breakdown of these - Examples: glucose fructose and
galactose
macromolecules are responsible for
Pentoses
energy production for cellular
- 5 carbon atoms
activities
- C5H10O5 & C5H10O4 (molecular
formula)
Bonds Between Monomers
- Examples: ribose and deoxyribose
1. Carbohydrates: Glycosidic bonds
[bonds among sugar molecules]
Glucose (Dextrose) - most common
2. Lipids: Ester Bonds [bonds between
instant energy source, found in blood
glycerol and fatty acids]
Fructose - sweetest sugar, found in
3. Proteins: Peptide bonds [among
fruits and semen
amino acids]
Galactose - found in milk
4. Nucleic acids: Phosphate ester
bonds [between phosphate and
pentose sugar] & hydrogen bonds
[between nitrogenous bases]
, Biology | Biomolecules and Metabolic Disorders
Lecture Notes for STEM Track (2019)
2. Disaccharides (double sugars) digested by herbivores due to certain
Subunits: Two bacteria and protists that live in their
Examples: Lactose aka sugar in milk, digestive system.
Sucrose aka table sugar, Maltose aka E. Chitin = major component of
sugar in beer,Main Function: Transport arthropod exoskeleton and fungal cell
Form walls
Mnemonic: Length Supports Movement
Benefits of Carbohydrates
Lactose = glucose and galactose (milk - important aspect of the human diet
sugar) because it provides an immediate
Maltose = glucose and glucose (malt source of energy
sugar used in beer) - Contain soluble and insoluble
Sucrose = glucose and fructose elements. The insoluble part of which
(common table sugar) is known as FIBER which aids in
removing excess cholesterol and
3. Polysaccharides (complex sugars) promotes regular bowel movement.
Subunits: Many
Examples: Cellulose, Chitin, Glycogen,
LIPIDS
Starch
- non-polar molecules, insoluble in
Main Function: Storage Form (short
water
term), Structural molecules
- Contain C,H, and O but usually have
Mnemonic: Can Get Stored
lower numbers of each compared to
carbohydrates
A. Starch = contains two forms: Amylose
and Amylopectin, short term energy
Functions:
storage, only found in plants
- long term energy storage (ex. Fats
B. Amylose = starch formed by
and oils)
unbranched chains of glucose
- Insulation (ex. Blubber)
monomers, while amylopectin is
- Protection and water proofing (ex.
branched polysaccharide.
Cell membrane and oils)
C. Glycogen = storage form of glucose
- Structural components (ex. Part of
in humans and other vertebrates; made
cell membranes)
up of monomers of glucose; highly
branched molecule usually stored in the
Examples:
liver and muscle cells; and whenever
- fats and oils (fats originate from
blood glucose levels decrease,
animals, solid at room temperature;
glycogen is broken down to release
oils originate from plants, liquid at
glucose
room temperature)(both are
D. Cellulose = most abundant
triglycerides though!)
biopolymer. The cell wall of plants is
- Phospholipids
mostly composed of cellulose, and
- Steroids
wood is mostly cellulosic in nature.
- Waxes
Humans cannot digest it but it can be
Lecture Notes for STEM Track (2019)
Four Main Types of Biomolecules CARBOHYDRATES
1. Carbohydrates - ratio of carbon to hydrogen to
2. Lipids oxygen is 1:2:1
3. Proteins - Can be presented by the
4. Nucleic Acids stoichiometric formula [CH2O]n
where n is the number of carbon in
Biomolecules the molecule
- Are large molecules that are usually
made up of many repeating units Classified into three types based on the
called monomers. carbon chain’s LENGTH
- Polymer is what you call a large
molecule made up of more than ten 1. Monosaccharides (simple sugars)
monomers. Subunits: One
Examples: Glucose, Galactose, Fructose,
Polymerization: Monomers attach Main Function: Energy Source
themselves to tother monomers to form Mnemonic: Gives Good Flavor
polymers via dehydration synthesis or
condensation reaction These are simple sugars, with the most
common one being glucose. Most
Hydrolysis monosaccharide names end with the
- polymers are broken down into suffix -ose.
monomers through a reaction where
a water molecule is utilized during the
TYPES OF MONOSACCHARIDE
breakdown
Hexoses
- The hydrolysis of macromolecules is - 6 carbon atoms
completed with the help of catalysts
- C6H12O6 (molecular formula)
called enzymes
- The breakdown of these - Examples: glucose fructose and
galactose
macromolecules are responsible for
Pentoses
energy production for cellular
- 5 carbon atoms
activities
- C5H10O5 & C5H10O4 (molecular
formula)
Bonds Between Monomers
- Examples: ribose and deoxyribose
1. Carbohydrates: Glycosidic bonds
[bonds among sugar molecules]
Glucose (Dextrose) - most common
2. Lipids: Ester Bonds [bonds between
instant energy source, found in blood
glycerol and fatty acids]
Fructose - sweetest sugar, found in
3. Proteins: Peptide bonds [among
fruits and semen
amino acids]
Galactose - found in milk
4. Nucleic acids: Phosphate ester
bonds [between phosphate and
pentose sugar] & hydrogen bonds
[between nitrogenous bases]
, Biology | Biomolecules and Metabolic Disorders
Lecture Notes for STEM Track (2019)
2. Disaccharides (double sugars) digested by herbivores due to certain
Subunits: Two bacteria and protists that live in their
Examples: Lactose aka sugar in milk, digestive system.
Sucrose aka table sugar, Maltose aka E. Chitin = major component of
sugar in beer,Main Function: Transport arthropod exoskeleton and fungal cell
Form walls
Mnemonic: Length Supports Movement
Benefits of Carbohydrates
Lactose = glucose and galactose (milk - important aspect of the human diet
sugar) because it provides an immediate
Maltose = glucose and glucose (malt source of energy
sugar used in beer) - Contain soluble and insoluble
Sucrose = glucose and fructose elements. The insoluble part of which
(common table sugar) is known as FIBER which aids in
removing excess cholesterol and
3. Polysaccharides (complex sugars) promotes regular bowel movement.
Subunits: Many
Examples: Cellulose, Chitin, Glycogen,
LIPIDS
Starch
- non-polar molecules, insoluble in
Main Function: Storage Form (short
water
term), Structural molecules
- Contain C,H, and O but usually have
Mnemonic: Can Get Stored
lower numbers of each compared to
carbohydrates
A. Starch = contains two forms: Amylose
and Amylopectin, short term energy
Functions:
storage, only found in plants
- long term energy storage (ex. Fats
B. Amylose = starch formed by
and oils)
unbranched chains of glucose
- Insulation (ex. Blubber)
monomers, while amylopectin is
- Protection and water proofing (ex.
branched polysaccharide.
Cell membrane and oils)
C. Glycogen = storage form of glucose
- Structural components (ex. Part of
in humans and other vertebrates; made
cell membranes)
up of monomers of glucose; highly
branched molecule usually stored in the
Examples:
liver and muscle cells; and whenever
- fats and oils (fats originate from
blood glucose levels decrease,
animals, solid at room temperature;
glycogen is broken down to release
oils originate from plants, liquid at
glucose
room temperature)(both are
D. Cellulose = most abundant
triglycerides though!)
biopolymer. The cell wall of plants is
- Phospholipids
mostly composed of cellulose, and
- Steroids
wood is mostly cellulosic in nature.
- Waxes
Humans cannot digest it but it can be
