Question

What are the four major categories of macromolecules? Describe the basic structures and the primary functions of each.

Answer 1

The 4 types of Macromolecules:

- Carbohydrates: Compound made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and oxygen. Their main functions are for Energy, Storage, and structure. There are 3 types of carbs; Monosaccharides, Disaccharides (Which are both simple sugars), and Polysaccharides (Which are starches).

- Lipids: Compound that contains mostly carbon and hydrogen. Their main functions are to store energy, Insulate the body, surround and protect cells, regulate cell activity, and provide structure and Transmit information. They are well known as Fats (solid at room temp.) & oils (Liquid at room temp.) phospholipids, and Steroids.

- Proteins: Compound made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen. Their main functions are for transport, making movement possible, providing structure and support, and speeding up chemical reactions.

- Nucleic Acids: Compound made of Carbon, Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous. Their main function is to store and transmit genetic information, determine protein structure, and helping in building proteins. They are the blueprint for life. They include DNA and RNA, and they determine your appearance.

Answer 2

The four macro molecules are nucleic acid, carbohydrate, proteins, and lipids.

Structure:

1. Nucleic acids: Contain N in rings, nucleotides made of sugar, phosphate and nitrogenous base

1. Carbohydrates: Made of C,H, and O; –OH's on all carbons except one

2. Lipid: Made of C,H, and O; lots of C-H bonds; may have some C=C bonds (unsaturated)

3. Protein: Contain N, have N-C-C backbone

Function:

1. Nucleic acids: Stores and transfers info

2. Carbohydrates; Store energy, provide fuel, and build structure in body, main source of energy, structure of plant cell wall

3. Lipid: Insulator and stores fat and energy

4. Protein: Provide structural support, transport, enzymes, movement, defense.