BIOMOLECULES

BIOMOLECULES
Essential

molecules for
all living
organisms.
Theyhave
unique
characteristics
and properties
They

contribute to
the structure
and function of
the cells
 ELEMENTS
COMPOUNDS

INORGANIC ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
WATER
ACIDS
BASES
ELECTROLYTES
CARBON DIOXIDE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PROTEINS
CARBOHYDRATES
LIPIDS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
 PROTEINS
MOST abundant
organic
compounds found
in any living
organism.
Contains:
CARBON,
HYDROGEN, &
OXYGEN , NITROGEN
molecules
There are 20
amino acids
that are
essential in the
human body.
We are capable
of making 11 of
these amino
acids and other
9 must be
consumed.
Thus, these 9
amino acids
are called
essential
amino acids.
Essential amino acids
HISTIDINE
ISOLEUCINE
LEUCINE
LYSINE
METHIONINE
PHENYLALANINE
THREONINE
TRYPTOPHAN
VALINE
7 MAJOR CLASSES
Structural

Protein
Contractile

Protein
Storage Protein
Defensive

Protein
Transport

Protein
Signal Protein

FOUR STRUCTURES
1. PRIMARY STRUCTURE
 Polypeptide chains of
amino acids.
 Attached together by
covalent or peptide
bonds.
2. SECONDARY
STRUCTURE
- Highly regular local
sub-structure in the
form of: alpha helix
or beta strand
3. TERTIARY
STRUCTURE
- Overall 3D
shape of a
polypeptide
4. QUATERNARY
STRUCTURE
- Multiple folded
protein or coiling
protein molecules in
a multi-subunit
complex.
CARBOHYDRATES
Main source
of energy in
all organisms
Contains:
CARBON,
HYDROGEN, &
OXYGEN
molecules
Classified as:
SIMPLE

CARBOHYDRATES
COMPLEX

CARBOHYDRATES
Basically grouped as:
Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides
MONOsaccharides
Simple

sugars
Consists of 1

sugar unit
Considered as
the building
blocks for
more complex
forms of sugar
Starting

materials for the

construction of
other organic
molecules such
as fats.
Highlysoluble
in water and
can pass freely
through
membranes.
Common example:
GLUCOSE
GALACTOSE
FRUCTOSE
Theyall have
same chemical
formula:
C6H12O6
 DIsaccharides
Complex sugars
2 monosaccharides

joined together
Examples:
SUCROSE
MALTOSE
LACTOSE
 SUCROSE
“table sugar”
glucose
+
fructose
 MALTOSE
“malt sugar”
glucose
+
glucose
 LACTOSE
“milk sugar”
glucose
+
galactose
POLYsaccharides
Complex sugars
Made up of chains

and/or branches of
monosaccharide
(glucose)
Examples:
STARCH
GLYCOGEN
CELLULOSE
CHITIN
 STARCH
Straight chain
of glucose
Food storage

in plants
 GLYCOGEN
Branched chain
of glucose
Food storage
in animals
 CELLULOSE
Zig-zag chain of
glucose
Found in
plants’ cell wall
Support and
protection of
plant cells
 CHITIN
Found in the outer
coverings of
crustaceans and
insects for protection
and support.
Search and study the following terms:

Part I. Part II.

1. Lipids 1. Nucleic
2. Wax Acids
3. Triglycerides
2. Nucleotides
4. Phospholipids
3. DNA
5. Steroids
4. RNA
 LIPIDS
areorganic molecules
that are insoluble in
water because of their
lack of many polar and
H-bonding functional
groups.
Contains:
CARBON,
HYDROGEN, &
OXYGEN molecules
 The word “lipid” comes from the
Greek word “lipos” which means
FAT.
 Lipids are a family of

biomolecules having varied

structures. They are grouped
together simply because of their
hydrophobic property (water-
fearing). They are soluble in non-
polar solvents..
FATTY ACIDS
building blocks/sub-units of
lipids
are long-chain carboxylic

acids are INSOLUBLE in water.

It can be SATURATED or

UNSATURATED.
Saturated Fatty Acids
 Contain single bonds in its hydro-carbon
chain.
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
 Contain double bonds in its hydro-carbon
chain.
An easy way to remember
SATURATED FATTY ACIDS is to
think of them as “saturated with
hydrogen” ---all the carbon
molecules have 2 hydrogen
atoms attached to it.
UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS---

carbons with a double bond only

have one hydrogen atom
attached to it.
KINDS OF LIPIDS
 WAX
 Is a combination of alcohol and a
saturated fatty acid.
 It is solid at room temperature but

melts easily.
 It is found in animals and plants.
 It serves as coating of leaves and fruits

in plants.
 Animals also have it in feathers and skin

as protection.
Common examples:
Beeswax from honeycomb
Carnauba wax from palm

trees
Spermaceti wax from whale

fat (used by sailors for

candles in old times)
 TRIGLYCERIDE
Fatand oil are the most
common examples of
lipids. They are under
triglycerides because
they are composed of
glycerol and 3 fatty acids.
 FATS –solid triglyceride, usually from
animal sources such as meat, milk,
butter, margarine, eggs and cheese.
 OILS –liquid triglyceride, usually from

plant sources such as olive oil, corn

oil, sunflower oil an soybean oil.
 Animal fat contains HIGH percentage

of saturated fatty acids while plant oil

are MOSTLY unsaturated fatty acids.
 PHOSPHOLIPIDS
 Contain glycerol, 2 fatty acids and
phosphate group.
 Unlike other lipids, phospholipids

have polar and non-polar end.

 This property allows it to transport

molecules in the blood stream.

 It is also a major component in the

cell membrane.
The two parts of a
phospholipid can be termed as
the HYDROPHILIC HEAD
(phosphate group) and
HYDROPHOBIC TAIL (fatty acid
group).
This dual property allows

phospholipids to form a
phospholipid bilayer.
The hydrophilic head sticks out
while the hydrophobic tail is
tucked in and away from the
watery environment.
This is why phospholipids are

suitable as cell membrane.

 STEROIDS
 Came from the Greek word “stereos”
meaning solid.
 It is composed of fused-ring structures,

namely, three six-membered ring and a

five-membered ring.
 The group is very wide, ranging from

sterol and bile acid to sex hormones to

adrenal hormones to hormones regulating
the molting of insects and many more.
COMMON EXAMPLES:
 Cholesterol – it is amphiphilic,
it means it has polar head and
an extensive non-polar tail.
-it is a precursor for steroid
hormone synthesis and is also
used in membrane
construction.
 Estradiol
– a form of estrogen and
testosterone.

TESTOSTERONE – produced by the male

testis and is responsible for the
development of the male sex organ and
masculine characteristics.

ESTROGEN – is responsible for the

development of female sex organs,
menstrual cycle and other feminine
qualities.
 NUCLEIC ACIDS
Nucleicacid was
discovered by a 24
years old Swiss
Physician Friedrich
Miescher in 1868.
He was puzzled that an
unknown substance in white
blood cells did not resemble
carbohydrates, proteins or
lipids.
He was able to isolate the

substance from the nucleus

and initially called it NUCLEIN.
He eventually was able to
break down nuclein into
protein and nucleic acids.
He found out that nucleic

acids contain CARBON,

HYDROGEN, OXYGEN,
NITROGEN AND
PHOSPHORUS.
 COMMON EXAMPLES
 DNA  RNA
 deoxyribonucleic  ribonucleic acid
acid  Carries the
 carries the information from
genetic code of the DNA to the
organisms, cellular factories
“blueprint of life” for protein
 has sugar group synthesis.
of deoxyribose  has sugar group
of ribose
The building blocks of nucleic
acids are called “nucleotides”.
Nucleic acids are also known as

“polynucleotides”.
Nucleotide has 3 parts:
 Nitrogenous base
 5-carbon carbohydrate or

sugar
 Phosphate group
 NITROGENOUS BASES
 DNA  RNA
 Guanine  Guanine
 Cytosine  Cytosine
 Adenine  Adenine
 Thymine  Uracil
TAKE NOTE:
 The sequence of the base pairs in one’s DNA
is unique for every organism (except for
identical twins). The DNA and the cell
containing it determine the kind of protein
that will be synthesized. The different
proteins are then responsible for the
processes that carbohydrates, lipids,
proteins, and other substances in the body
undertake.
WRITTEN WORK 8
1. Why are nucleic acids named so?
2. What comprises nucleic acids?
3. What is another term for nucleic acids?
4. What are the three parts of a nucleotide?
5. What are the common examples of nucleic
acids?
6. What is the pri mary role of DNA?
7. How does RNA help in prot ein synthesis?
8. What are the bases of DNA and RNA?
9. How are DNA and RNA similar?
10. How are DNA and RNA different?