Macromolecules

Macromolecules

Proteins

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrousform, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid residues.

Most proteins consist of linear polymers built from series of up to 20 different L-α-amino acids. All proteinogenic amino acids possess common structural features, including an α-carbon to which an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain are bonded.

To build and repair muscles, building structures, enzymes, antibodies, repair and maintenance ,and growth. Without protein synthesis, there would be no cell growth or maintenance. Without cells, there would be no life.

Nucleic acids

Nucleic acids are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Together with proteins, nucleic acids make up the most important macromolecules; each is found in abundance in all living things, where they function in encoding, transmitting and expressing genetic information.

Nucleic acids are the genetic material of all organisms, and they determine many of the features of an organism. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Both are made of long chains of subunits called nucleotides.

DNA carries the 'instructions' required to assemble proteins from amino acids subunits using a generic code. It is accurately passed from cell to cell during cell division. RNA plays a major role in the manufacture of proteins within cells.

Carbohydrates

The term is most common in biochemistry, where it is a synonym of saccharide. The carbohydrates (saccharides) are divided into four chemical groupings: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides. In general, the monosaccharides and disaccharides, which are smaller (lower molecular weight) carbohydrates, are commonly referred to assugars. While the scientific nomenclature of carbohydrates is complex, the names of the monosaccharides and disaccharides very often end in the suffix -ose. For example, blood sugar is the monosaccharide glucose, table sugar is the disaccharide sucrose, Polysaccharides serve for the storage of energy and as structural components. The 5-carbon monosaccharide ribose is an important component of coenzymes and the backbone of the genetic molecule known as RNA. The related deoxyribose is a component of DNA. Saccharides and their derivatives include many other important biomolecules that play key roles in the immune system.

Lipids

Lipids may be broadly defined as hydrophobic or amphiphilic small molecules; the amphiphilic nature of some lipids allows them to form structures such

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