BIOLOGICAL
MACROMOLECULES
BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
Biological macromolecules - are large, organic molecule such as
carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Most of them are organic
compounds and the functional group determines their chemical properties.
Biomolecules have a huge variety of functions, such as storing energy,
protection, etc. Now be ready with your journey to the different
biomolecules, their structures, and functions found in your food.
TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Monosaccharide – simplest form of carbohydrates
Monomer – a molecule that can react with other molecule to form very large molecules orpolymers
Peptide – short chain of amino acid monomer link by peptide bonds
Hormones – special chemical messengers that are created in the endocrine gland
Amino acids – organic compounds that combined to form proteins
Enzymes – proteins which make the bio chemical reaction fast
Nucleotide – made up of three components: nitrogen-containing base, five-carbon sugar, and a
phosphate group
Phospholipids – contain glycerol, two-fatty acids, and a phosphate group
BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
1. Carbohydrates
The word carbohydrate may be broken down to carbon and hydrate. Another term for
carbohydrate is saccharide. Carbohydrates are classified either as simple or complex.
Simple sugars are monosaccharide and disaccharides. Complex sugars are polysaccharides
Carbohydrates are the primary energy source of the human body. The different
saccharides that humans eat are converted to glucose which can be readily used by the
body. The excessive consumption of carbohydrates is converted to glycogen which is stored
in the liver and in muscles. Glycogen is a slow-releasing carbohydrate
MONOSACCHARIDE (ONE SACCHARIDE)
DISACCHARIDES (TWO SACCHARIDES)
POLYSACCHARIDES (MANY SACCHARIDES)
Carbohydrates
They are made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Monomer: saccharides
Examples: rice, cereal, potatoes, fruits, pastas
Function: main energy source of the body
2. Lipids or Fats
Lipids or fats are important nutrients in your body but eating too many especially unhealthy
fats such as saturated fats and trans fats can lead to heart disease, cancer, and obesity. Lipids
also serve other functions such as material for cell membrane, insulation to maintain body
temperature, aid in digestion, and as signal molecules.
There are different classifications of lipids: triglyceride, phospholipid, wax, and steroid. The
lipid family is one of the most varied in terms of structure but they share the common
property of being insoluble in water.
Fat and oil are the most common examples of lipids. They are under triglycerides because
they are composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.
Fat refers to solid triglyceride usually from animal sources such as meat, milk, butter,
margarine, eggs, and cheese. Oil refers to liquid triglycerides from plant sources. Examples
are olive oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and soybean oil. Animal fats contain high percentages of
saturated fatty acids while plant oils are mostly unsaturated fatty acids.
Lipids
They are made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
They are soluble (dissolve) in oil but are insoluble (don’t
dissolve)
in water.
Examples: fats and oils
Function: long-term storage of energy in the body
Monomer: fatty acid
3. Proteins
Proteins are composed of four elements, namely: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Sulfur and other metals are
sometimes also found in proteins. If carbohydrates are made up of saccharides, proteins are made up of amino acids.
Examples of proteins and their functions are:
1. Keratin is a structural protein found in hair, skin, and nails.
2. Fibroin / Silk protein – Fibroin is found in silk. Silk has a smooth and soft texture. It is one of the strongest natural
fibers that have high resistance to deformation. It is also a good insulating material.
3. Collagen is a major insoluble fibrous protein found in connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, skin, cartilage
and the cornea of the eye. It comprises as
much as 30% of proteins in animals.
4. Enzymes function to catalyze chemical reactions. They either speed up a
reaction, lower the needed energy for a reaction to take place, or bind substances to
their specific partners.
Examples of enzymes
a. Lipase – help in digestion of fats
b. Pepsin – help in breaking down proteins into peptides (smaller units)
c. Sucrase – also called invertase; help in the digestion of sugars and starches
5. Myoglobin is a polypeptide that stores oxygen in muscles. It contains a heme group which has an iron where the oxygen is
stored.
Proteins
They are made from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen
Proteins are made up of amino acids combined through a dehydration link called a peptide bond.
Monomer: amino acid
Two classes:
1. Saturated fats have two carbons attached to each carbon (except the one at the end). Saturated fats are unhealthy fats like
butter.
2. Unsaturated fats are missing at least one hydrogen and are curl in shape. The unsaturated fats are healthy, and include oils.
4. Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids play an essential role in the storage, transfer, and expression of
genetic information. Nucleic acid was discovered by a 24-year old Swiss
physician named Friedrich Miescher in 1868. He was puzzled that an
unknown substance in white blood cells did not resemble carbohydrates,
proteins, or lipids. He was able to isolate the substance from the nucleus
and initially called it nuclein. He eventually was able to break down nuclein
into protein and nucleic acids. He found out that nucleic acids contain
carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
The most common examples of nucleic acids are DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA(ribonucleic acid). DNA is a
nucleic acid that carries the genetic code of organisms. It is fondly termed as the blueprint of life. RNA, on another hand,
carries the information from the DNA to the cellular factories for the synthesis of proteins. If carbohydrates are
composed of saccharide units, proteins of amino acids, and lipids of fatty acids, nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides.
Nucleic acids are also known as polynucleotides.
Three parts of nucleotide:
1. Nitrogenous base
2. Five-carbon carbohydrate or sugar
3. Phosphate group
Nucleic Acids
They are made from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Monomer: nucleotide
Examples: DNA and RNA
Function: involves the genetic materials, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). DNA is the blueprint
of life because it contains instructions on how to make proteins in the body.
Structures of the Different Biomolecules
Remember this mnemonic device of biomolecules: CHO CHO CHON CHONP
C stands for the element Carbon N stands for the element Nitrogen
H stands for the element Hydrogen P stands for the element Phosphorus
O stands for the element Oxygen