Macromolecules Week 4 Tuesday

Science Understanding
DNA stores and transmits genetic information; it functions in the same way in all living
things.
DNA is a helical double-stranded molecule.
In eukaryotes, DNA is bound to proteins in linear chromosomes, which are found in the
nucleus.
DNA is unbound and circular in the cytosol of prokaryotes and in the mitochondria and
chloroplasts of eukaryotes.
• Compare chromosomes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Chemical components of Macromolecules

All matter is made up of atoms. Substances called Elements are made up of only one
atom, like gold or Sulphur.
Some substances are made up of more than one atom. These are called
molecules.
- Hydrogen(H2), oxygen (O2) and ozone (O3) are examples of
molecules.
If more than one type of atom is used to make up a molecule, it is called a
compound.
- Water (H2O) and glucose (C6H12O6) are examples of compounds.
- The proportions of the atoms in each compound are very important
too. Water (H2O) is safe, yet Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) is toxic.

Organic Molecules
Compounds can be classifying as either organic, or inorganic. Anything that isn’t organic
inorganic.

To be called an organic compound, it must:

- Contain Carbon
- Be complex.
- Be produced and or associated with living things.
 Organic compounds in Organisms
There are 4 main
organic compounds
found in organisms:
- Carbohydrates
- Nucleic Acids
- Proteins
- Lipids
These are called
polymers, or
macromolecules, as
they are made up of
many smaller
subunits, called
monomers.

Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are macromolecules, which are made up of individual subunits called
nucleotides.
- They are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Each Nucleotide is made up of a central 5-carnon sugar (deoxyribose, ribose), with a
phosphate on one side, and a nitrogenous base on the other.

These nucleotides join up, creating a sugar-phosphate backbone, with the nitrogenous bases
free.
DNA stores all of the information needed for your cells to function correctly, to control
multiple complex cellular processes. It can self replicate, so it is in every daughter cell.
• RNA is used in protein synthesis.
 RNA DNA
Single stranded Double stranded.
Ribose sugar Deoxyribose sugar
Complementary bases Complementary bases
Cytosine – Guanine Cytosine – Guanine
Adenine – Uracil Adenine – Thymine
Can leave the nucleus. Cannot leave the nucleus.

Prokaryotes
Prokaryotes (bacteria) contain a single circular chromosome.
This is made of DNA and is not bound up as it doesn’t have proteins attached to it.
This chromosome lives in the cytosol as prokaryotes do not have a nucleus.
Mitochondria and Chloroplasts contain their own DNA, which is circular, unbound, and
not attached to proteins.

DNA in Eukaryotes
 Eukaryotes have linear DNA.
Special sections of this DNA contain coding regions called genes. These genes are the
specific instructions for the production of a specific protein.
Specific genes live in particular positions on chromosomes. These positions are called
loci (singular: locus).

During replication, these incredibly long strands are coiled and wrapped around special
proteins called histones.
When linear DNA is wrapped up by proteins, this complex is called chromatin. The most
basic subunit of chromatin is a nucleosome.
Once the DNA has replicated prior to cell division, we can see the thick chromosomes
that we are so familiar with, as all of the genetic material is coiled up.

Prokaryotic chromosomes Eukaryotic chromosomes

Circular DNA Linear DNA
No histone proteins Histone proteins present
One chromosome Two or more chromosomes
No introns (non-coding DNA) Contains introns (non-coding DNA)
Attaches to cell membrane during cell division Attaches to spindle fibres during cell
division
Found in the cytosol Found in the nucleus

Prokaryotic vs Eukaryotic chromosomes