MACROMOLECULES
CARBOHYDRATES - SUGARS
- The four macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- They are also called organic compounds because they contain the element carbon.
CARBOHYDRATES - SUGARS
- are made of C, H, & O in a 1:2:1 ratio
- usually form rings or chains
- are made of monosaccharides (simple sugars)
- Foods containing carbs provide lots of energy for the body
- Ex. of carbs are glucose, cellulose, chitin, & peptidoglycan
LIPIDS - FATS
- usually form an E - shape
- They are made of glycerol and fatty acids
- Foods containing lipids (fats) help lubricate, insulate & store energy for the body
- Lipids make up the cell boundaries.
- They are insoluble in water.
PROTEINS
- can form primary, secondary, tertiary, & quarternary structures
- They are made of amino acids
- Foods containing proteins help build muscles, heal tissues, transport O2, & catalyze reactions.
- Ex. hemoglobin, keratin, polymerase, melanin, enzymes
NUCLEIC ACIDS
- are made of nucleotides
- do not provide nutrition
- Nucleic acids store hereditary information.
- Their codes provide instructions for building proteins.
- Ex. DNA & RNA