Pitt Lawrence R.
Cabarles
G-12 Andromeda
Absolutely! Let's take a closer look at the structures of each biomolecule group:
1. Carbohydrates:
Monosaccharides: These are the simplest sugars, like glucose and fructose. They have a ring structure
with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and can hold onto water molecules (hydrophilic).
Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides linked together, like sucrose (table sugar) and lactose (milk
sugar).
Polysaccharides: Long chains of monosaccharides, like starch (plant energy storage) and cellulose
(plant cell wall). The shape and branching of these chains determine their properties and functions.
2. Proteins:
Amino acids: The building blocks of proteins, with an amine group, a carboxyl group, a side chain (R
group), and a backbone with nitrogen and carbon atoms. The R group gives each amino acid its unique
properties.
Primary structure: The linear sequence of amino acids in a protein chain, like a string of beads.
Secondary structure: Folding patterns like alpha helices and beta sheets, formed by hydrogen bonds
between the amino acid backbones.
Tertiary structure: The 3D folding of the protein chain due to interactions between R groups (hydrogen
bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bonds, etc.). This unique shape determines the protein's function.
Quaternary structure: In some proteins, multiple protein chains combine to form a functional unit, like
hemoglobin.
3. Lipids:
Fats: Long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms with a glycerol backbone and fatty acid tails,
hydrophobic (repel water).
Phospholipids: Like fats, but with a phosphate group on the glycerol backbone, making one end
hydrophilic and the other hydrophobic. They form the bilayer structure of cell membranes.
Steroids: Ring-shaped molecules with four fused rings and various functional groups, important for
hormones and cholesterol.
4. Nucleic acids:
Nucleotides: The building blocks of DNA and RNA, consisting of a nitrogenous base, a sugar (pentose),
and a phosphate group.
DNA: Double helix structure formed by two polynucleotide chains, with complementary base pairs
(adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine) linked by hydrogen bonds.
RNA: Single-stranded molecule with similar nucleotides as DNA, but uracil replacing thymine. Different
types of RNA play specific roles in protein synthesis and other cellular processes.
Pitt Lawrence R. Cabarles
G-12 Andromeda
Define the following:
Dehydration synthesis
Hydrolysis
Monomers
Polymers
Enzymes
Catalyst
Reactant
Substrate
Activation Energy
Active site
Definitions:
Dehydration Synthesis: A chemical reaction where two smaller molecules (monomers) combine to form
a larger molecule (polymer), with the elimination of a water molecule. This process is also called a
condensation reaction and is crucial for building complex molecules like proteins, carbohydrates, and polymers.
Hydrolysis: The opposite of dehydration synthesis, where a large molecule (polymer) is broken down
into smaller molecules (monomers) with the addition of water. This reaction helps break down complex
molecules for energy and building blocks.
Monomers: Small molecules that are the building blocks of polymers. They join together through
chemical reactions to form larger, more complex molecules.
Polymers: Large molecules formed by the linking of monomers. They play essential roles in biological
processes, such as structural support, energy storage, and signal transduction.
Enzymes: Biological catalysts that speed up specific chemical reactions in living organisms. They are
highly specific for their substrates and work efficiently under mild conditions.
Catalyst: Any substance that lowers the activation energy of a chemical reaction, thereby speeding it up
without being consumed in the process. Enzymes are a specific type of biological catalyst.
Reactant: A substance that participates in a chemical reaction and is transformed into a product.
Substrate: The specific molecule that an enzyme binds to and acts upon in a chemical reaction. It fits
into the active site of the enzyme for efficient catalysis.
Activation Energy: The minimum energy required for a chemical reaction to proceed. Catalysts,
including enzymes, lower the activation energy, making the reaction occur faster.
Active Site: The specific region on an enzyme’s surface where the substrate binds and the chemical
reaction takes place. It has a unique shape and chemical properties that complement the substrate for efficient
catalysis.
