Biological Macromolecules and Enzyme Functions

Biological Macromolecules

• Carbohydrates: Quick (short-term) energy source. Found in foods like; built from simple sugars (monosaccharides).
• Lipids: Long-term energy. Provide insulation and protection. Make up cell membranes. Include fats, oils, and waxes.
• Proteins: Made of amino acids. Help build structures (muscles, tissues). Act as enzymes to speed up reactions.
• Nucleic Acids: Store and transmit genetic information. Examples: DNA and RNA. Made of nucleotides.

Practice Questions

Energy Use During a Sprint

1. Which macromolecule would your body use first during a sprint? Why? Your body uses carbohydrates first because they provide quick, easily accessible short-term energy.

Macromolecules in Cell Membranes

2. Which macromolecule helps form your cell membrane? Lipids (specifically phospholipids).

Analyzing Inherited Traits

3. What macromolecule would you analyze to study inherited traits? Nucleic acids (specifically DNA), because they store genetic instructions.

Protein Structure and Function

4. Why are proteins important for both structure and function? They provide structure by building physical tissues (like muscle and hair) and drive function by acting as enzymes that catalyze nearly all chemical reactions in the body.

Monomer to Polymer Mapping

• Amino acids → Proteins (or Polypeptides)
• Monosaccharides → Carbohydrates (or Polysaccharides)
• Nucleotides → Nucleic Acids
• Fatty acids + glycerol → Lipids (Triglycerides)

Monomer vs. Polymer

What is the difference between a monomer and a polymer? A monomer is a single, small molecular building block. A polymer is a large molecule made by chaining many repeating monomers together.

Building Blocks of Proteins and DNA

Identify the building blocks of proteins and DNA? Proteins are built from amino acids. DNA is built from nucleotides.

Why Macromolecules Are Large

Why are macromolecules considered “large” molecules? They are polymers composed of hundreds or thousands of covalently bonded atoms, giving them a high molecular weight compared to simple molecules like water or carbon dioxide.

Unique Structure of Lipids

Which macromolecule is NOT made of repeating identical monomers in the same way as the others? Lipids. They are made of glycerol and fatty acids rather than a continuous chain of identical, repeating monomer units.

What Are Enzymes?

Enzymes are biological catalysts (mostly proteins) that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to start.

Factors Affecting Enzymes

Temperature, pH levels, and substrate concentration.

Role of Enzymes in Reactions

What is the role of an enzyme in a chemical reaction? It speeds up the rate of the reaction without being consumed or permanently altered in the process.

Effects of High Temperature

What might happen if an enzyme gets too hot? It will denature, meaning it loses its 3D shape and can no longer function.

Importance of Enzyme Shape

Why is shape important for enzyme function? An enzyme's shape determines its active site. If the shape changes, the specific substrate will no longer fit, and the reaction cannot happen.

Enzyme and Substrate Relationship

What is the relationship between an enzyme and its substrate? They fit together like a lock and key. The substrate binds perfectly to the enzyme's active site so the reaction can take place.

Why Enzymes Are Essential for Survival

Why are enzymes necessary for survival? Without them, the chemical reactions needed to maintain life (like digestion and cellular respiration) would occur too slowly to sustain living organisms.

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