Macromolecules

Macromolecules are made up of polymers which have subunits bonded together known as monomers. Our bodies are composed of these chains of subunits which in turn allows us to function. Subunits are covalently bonded through condensation reactions where water is a product of that specific reaction. The functionality of macromolecules is determined by its shape. There are four main types of macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates play a significant role in the body as they are the source that provides energy and structural protection in cell walls. In addition they are one of the most common organic molecules. Carbohydrates can be identified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides are simple sugars such as Glucose and Fructose. Glucose contains an aldehyde group also known as an Aldses. Fructose is a ketone also known as an Keytoses. Both of these are Hexoses as they contain 6 carbons. However, the difference is that Glucose forms a 6 carbon ring with Fructose forms a 5 carbon ring. Carbohydrates are formed through Glycosidic bonds where : R-OH + HO-R' ---> R-O-R' + H2O. A glycosidic bonds allows a monosaccharide to become a disaccharide. Examples of a disaccharides include: maltose which is made of two glucose monomers, lactose which is made of one glucose and one galactose molecule, sucrose which is made up of one glucose and one fructose. Multiple glycosidic bonds make polysaccharides which are polymers of carbohydrates. Examples include amylose or multiple maltose molecules, and glycogen which is multiple glucose molecules.

Lipids are macromolecules which help the body in digestion, insulation, energy storage, control with hormones, structure with body composition, and vitamins. In addition, lipids are hydrophobic molecules. Some types of molecules include triglycerides, fatty acids, phospholipids and steroids. Triglycerides are made of three fatty acid chains and a glycerol. Triglycerides are formed through ester linkages where an carboxyl group and hydroxyl group react to create the triglyceride and three H2O. Lipids can either be saturated or unsaturated. Saturated lipids are more stable, packable, do not react, have single covalent bonds between carbons, and are solid at room temperature. Unsaturated lipids are less stable, have more room for reactions, can be monounsaturated or polyunsaturated, have kink which make them less packable and are healthier. Phospholipids form a phospholipid bilayer called micelle which includes a fatty acid and phosphate where there is a hydrophillic head and hydrophobic tail. Finally, steroids are lipids with a four carbon ring frame. There are four types of steroids which include cholesterol, vitamin D, cortisol, and testosterone. It is mainly used to increase muscle size.

Proteins polymers of amino acids which are formed through peptide linkage where an amino group and carboxyl group react. Its function is to provide the structure for the body, energy, enzymes and cell cycle regulation. The structure for proteins are primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. Primary is a straight sequence of amino acids. Secondary is where forces are generated and closely bind. Teritary is where the amino acid bends and quaternary is where multiple tertiary attach together. Amino acids are non-polar through London forces, symmetrical. Essential amino acids are ones the body cannot produces while non-essential are ones that the body can produce. The main important point for a protein is that is that its shape is what allows it to function. Denaturation is where the protein loses its shape whereas renaturation is where the denatured protein forms its original shape but loses function.

Nucleic Acids are best known for being polymers of nucleotides which include the phosphate group, sugar and nitrogenous base. Its function allows for inheritance, genetics and genes, and protein synthesis. They are formed through hydrogen bonds between complementary bases. It is a weak bond that is able to break apart when necessary for example DNA replication. It also contains phosphodiester bonds is a covalent between the sugar and phosphate group (backbone of DNA strands)