Four classes of macromolecules

Basic overview of molecules of living things

1. Four Classes of Macromolecules Notes Booklet: Inside Panels Biological Importance, Dietary Sources, Functional Groups

2. Carbohydrates Biological Importance Very abundant in nature Preferred energy s ource for most organisms Photosynthesis directly produces glucose Cellulose is the most abundant terrestrial biomolecule Energy is extracted from glucose during cellular respiration Make up cell walls plants, bacteria, fungi, algae Make up exoskeletons arthropods, insects

3. Carbohydrates Dietary Sources Fruits, honey, milk Vegetables, grains Functional Groups Hydroxyl (-OH)

4. Lipids Biological Importance Long term energy storage A gram of fat stores twice as much energy as a gram of starch Lots of C-H bonds (high-energy bonds) Cell membranes would NOT exist (there for no cells, no life as we know it) Phospholipid bilayer Biological markers (glycolipids)

5. Lipids Dietary Sources Animal fats Plants: nuts, seeds (oils) Functional Groups Hydroxyl (-OH) Phosphate (-PO 4 ) Carbonyl (-C=O)

6. Proteins Biological Importance Determine the structure and function of cells! Do the WORK of cells Every living cell contains 100s – 1000s of proteins ~50% the dry mass of a cell is protein! Every dynamic function of a living thing depends on proteins Regulate metabolism Biomarkers (glycoproteins) Human proteome Over 19,000 proteins identified Expected # of human proteins = 250,000 – one million!

7. Proteins Dietary Sources Animals Plants Functional Groups Amino (-NH 2 ) Carboxyl (-COOH)

8. Nucleic Acids Biological Importance Reproduction (cellular and organism level) DNA controls its own reproduction RNA production is controlled by DNA Protein production is controlled by DNA and RNA DNA is like computer software RNA and proteins are like the hardware DNA contains a code for the production of PROTEINS ! Human genome About 20,000 genes code for proteins

9. Nucleic Acids Dietary Sources Almost every type of food has DNA in it! Raw foods = highest amount of DNA Unprocessed Uncooked Functional Groups Phosphate (-PO 4 ) Hydroxyl (-OH) Amino (-NH 2 )

10. ATP Biological Importance Life processes require a constant supply of energy ATP is the molecular unit of energy for cells to do work ATP fuels cellular metabolism! ATP stores and transfers energy in cells! Covalent bonds between –PO 4 are high-energy Hydrolysis of ATP releases high energy that is used by the cell to drive its activities Reverse reaction is a special type of reaction called PHOSPHORYLATION. Ingested nutrients are converted to ATP

11. ATP Dietary Sources ATP is not directly supplied in the diet Nutrients in the diet are converted to ATP in cells Functional Groups Phosphate (-PO 4 ) Amino (-NH 2 ) Hydroxyl (-OH)