Macromolecules

Monomer

A building block of a macromolecule, this is small chemical unit that makes up a polymer. The monomer of carbohydrates is a monosaccharide, the monomer of lipids is a fatty acid, the monomer of proteins is an amino acid, and the monomer of nucleic acids is a nucleotide.

Triglyceride

A lipid with one glycerol molecule attached to 3 fatty acids

Phospholipid

A lipid with one glycerol molecule, one phosphate group, and 2 fatty acids

Polymer

A molecule composed of many monomers; macromolecules are polymers made of monomers (building blocks).

Nucleotide

A nucleotide is the monomer (building block) of nucleic acids. DNA and RNA are built of nucleotides. Nucleotides are made up of a phosphate group, a 5 carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Cholesterol

A type of lipid found in body tissues of animals.

Hormones

A type of protein that acts as a chemical messenger.

Amino acids

Amino acids are the monomer (building block) of proteins. Proteins are made of amino acids. Animal proteins contain all 20 amino acids and are called complete proteins. Plant proteins do not always contain all 20 amino acids and are called incomplete proteins.

Denature

An enzyme can be denatured if it is not at the correct temperature and pH. Extreme temperatures and pH will break the hydrogen bonds and change the structure. When the structure of the enzyme is altered and it cannot function properly it is said to be denatured.

Enzyme

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.

Glycerol

Lipids are built from fatty acids and glycerol. Glycerol has three carbon atoms.

Lipid

Lipids are macromolecules that contain Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, and they are generally insoluble (not soluble) in water. Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, steroids. Lipids have a glycerol molecule to one or more fatty acids. Lipids with 3 fatty acids are triglycerides.

Fatty acids

Long chains of carbon atoms joined together; if they have all single bonds between them they are said to be saturated fats. If they have at least one double bond they are said to be unsaturated fats.

Nucleic acid

Nucleic acids include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). The monomer of a nucleic acid is a nucleotide; a nucleotide is made of a phosphate group, 5 carbon sugar, and nitrogenous base. The order of the bases adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine, determine the information stored in DNA.

Steroid

Organic compound containing four rings of carbon atoms. These are chemical messengers in the body.

Protein

Proteins are macromolecules containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, as well as sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. The monomor (building block) of proteins are amino acids. Enzymes and hormones are examples of proteins.

Carbohydrate

Sugars are carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are macromolecules composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen, in a ration of 1:2:1. The basic chemical formula of a carbohydrate is CH2O. Carbohydrates provide quick energy. One example is glucose.

Disaccharide

This is a carbohydrate made of two linked sugars.

Polysaccharide

This is a complex carbohydrate made of many sugars joined together.

Glucose

This is a monosaccharide (simple sugar) produced by plants in the process of photosynthesis.

Monosaccharide

This is the monomer (building block) of carbohydrates. It is a single sugar molecule (simple sugar), ex: glucose.