THE CHEMISTRY
OF LIFE
(BIOMOLECULES
)
Biomolecules (also known as
Macromolecules)
-are organic compounds that make
up all living organisms.
They are all produced through the
process of Biosynthesis.
Organic and Nature based
materials that we use today are
primarily rich in these four
Living organisms are
primarily made up of
Organic compounds.
The process of building
organic molecules by living
organisms is called
Biosynthesis.
The 4
macromolecules are
[Link],
[Link],
[Link] acids,
[Link] Proteins
.
The term “Biomolecules" refers to the
large, complex molecules that are
found in living organisms, and they
include proteins, nucleic acids, lipids,
and carbohydrates.
These biomolecules are often referred
to as "macromolecules" because they
are typically very large in size
compared to smaller molecules like
water or small organic compounds.
The term "macromolecule" essentially means
"large molecule," and it highlights the fact that
these biomolecules are made up of many
smaller subunits (monomers) that are linked
together in long chains. For example:
•Proteins are made of amino acids.
•Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are made of
nucleotides.
•Polysaccharides (like starch and cellulose)
are made of sugar molecules.
•Lipids can have complex structures, though
not always long chains like the other types.
Since these biomolecules are
typically large and composed of
repeating subunits,
"macromolecule" is an appropriate
descriptor, emphasizing their size
and complexity. The term
“Biomolecule" is used because
these macromolecules are essential
for life and are involved in the
structure and function of cells and
Biomolecules
are produced
through a process
known as
Biosynthesis.
Biosynthesis is the process by
which living organisms produce
complex molecules from simpler
ones, using enzymes and energy.
It’s how cells build essential
compounds like proteins, nucleic
acids, lipids, and carbohydrates,
which are vital for growth,
maintenance, and reproduction.
.
For example, when
cells synthesize proteins,
they use amino acids as
building blocks to create
long chains, folding them
into functional shapes.
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are one of the most
abundant macromolecules on Earth.
Literally, the term means “hydrates
of carbons” because of its 1:2:1
ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen of its simplest chemical
formula, respectively (e. g.,
C6H12O6 for glucose).
Carbohydrates
are generally
classified as
simple or
LIPIDS Chitin (exoskeleton)
Cellulose (plant cell wall)
Starch and glycogen Lipids are
a large group of substances also
found in living systems.
They are insoluble in water but are
soluble in solvents that are
nonpolar or have low polarity.
Chitin is a tough, flexible, and naturally
occurring biopolymer found in the exoskeletons
of arthropods (like insects and crustaceans)
and the cell walls of fungi. It’s made up of long
chains of a sugar called N-acetylglucosamine.
Chitin provides structural support and protection,
much like how cellulose works for plants. It's also
biodegradable and has been studied for uses in
various industries, from biomedicine to
agriculture.
Cellulose is an important
structural component of the
primary cell wall of
green plants, many forms of
algae and the oomycetes
Lipids have three Major
Functions:
[Link] storage, especially in
animal systems
2. Structural, as part of cellular
membranes
[Link] chemical messengers that
deliver signals from one part of
the body to another
There are Several Types of
Lipids based on their
structure but you would
be more familiar with fats
and oils, also known as
Triglycerides, or simply,
A fat molecule is composed of
long-chain fatty acids bonded
to glycerol.
Glycerol is an organic
compound with three carbons,
five hydrogens, and three
hydroxyl groups, while fatty
acids have long chains of
Fatty acids that make up fats
are either saturated or
unsaturated. Fats and oils
may also be classified that way.
“
Saturation/Unsaturation” of
fats indicates the presence or
absence of double bonds in the
Unsaturated fats have at least
one pair of double-bonded
carbons, are liquid at room
temperature, and are commonly
extracted from plants.
On the other hand, saturated fats
do not have double-bonded
hydrocarbons, are solid even at
You may also have
heard about Trans
fats.
These are artificially
hydrogenated oils
commonly used in the
Hydrogenation, the
addition of hydrogen to
the oil structure, results
in the saturation of the
oil, making it more stable
hence prolonging the
NUCLEIC ACIDS
Nucleic acids are the most
important Biomolecules in the
continuity of life.
They store genetic information in
the cell, and are in the form of
either DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
or RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleic acids are made up of
Nucleotides have
Three
components:
pentose sugar (5-
carbon sugar),
phosphate group,
Table 2 shows the features that differentiate DNA from RNA.
Figure 2 shows the parts of a nucleotide.
PROTEINS
Proteins are some of the most
complex macromolecules in
terms of structure and function.
Like carbohydrates, proteins are
also very abundant in living
organisms.
The building blocks of proteins
are the amino acids of which 20
An amino acid has an
amino group, a
carboxylic group, and an
R group or side chain.
Each amino acid has a
different R group or side
chain, which makes each
The Different
Types of proteins
are classified
based on their
function.
Keratin in the hair is
an example of a
structural protein, while
hormones like insulin
are regulatory proteins.
.
Actin and Myosin
proteins are for
movement, and are
called contractile
proteins.
.
Antibodies that are
produced by the white blood
cells are called protective
proteins, while hemoglobin
which carries oxygen gas is
an example of a transport
protein
Egg albumin is a
storage protein that
serves as
nourishment for the
developing embryo
Exploring the Structure and
Function of Biological
Molecules
• “Biochemistry is the science of life. All our life
processes-walking, talking, moving, feeding-
are essentially chemical reactions. So,
biochemistry is the chemistry of life, and it’s
supremely interesting.” – Aaron Ciechanover
Structure and Functions of Biological
Macromolecules
Biological macromolecules are large
molecules that are important components of
living systems. Performing a variety of
functions, they are vital to sustaining life.
The term “macromolecule” was coined in
1920 by Nobel Laureate Hermann
Staudinger. Staudinger was also the first to
assert that large biological molecules are
made up and formed by covalently bonded
Monomers and Polymers
Macromolecules perform a
crucial role in our cell
structure and processes.
Majority of biological
macromolecules are
polymers and are made of
covalently linked basic units
All the monomers which made up a
polymer are typically similar or at
least highly similar to one another,
and are bonded to form a larger unit
or larger macromolecule.
Monomers that link with other
monomers in various combinations
result in the formation of polymers,
which have different structures and
functions
Carbohydrates are composed of
carbon and hydrate (H + O). They are
classified as simple or complex sugars.
Simple sugars are
monosaccharides and
disaccharides, while complex
sugars are polysaccharides.
Carbohydrates serve as primary
source of energy for man, storage of
energy (glycogen), structural support
Proteins are polymers of amino acids
arranged in a linear sequence of amino
acid which is also consist of a central
carbon atom (alpha) attached to an amino
acid group, a carboxyl group, hydrogen
atom and variable component known as
side chain.
It is known as the most abundant organic
molecules in living systems, and have the
most diverse functions which include
regulatory, structural, protective,
Lipids are hydrophobic, nonpolar
molecules containing carbon-
hydrogen bonds. They are
insoluble in water. Lipids include
fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids,
and steroids and perform many
different functions such as energy
storage (fats), provide insulation,
building blocks of hormones, and a
major constituent of the plasma
Nucleic acids Nucleic acids are
biological macromolecules vital in
the continuity of life. Nucleic acid
carries the genetic material of a cell
and provides instructions for the
functioning of the cell.
There are two main types of
nucleic acids the deoxyribonucleic
acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid
(RNA). DNA carries genetic material
found in all living organisms