Information Table for Biological Molecules

Molecule Type

Subunit (monomers)

Carbohydrates

Simple sugars =
monosaccharides
Examples: glucose,
fructose
Shape: ring
Formula: C6H12O6
Structure:
-pentagon
-hexagon

How subunits are

bonded together
Glucoses are bonded
in long chains by
dehydration
synthesis.

Functions

Examples

Other Info

Monosaccharides
and disaccharides:
sweet-tasting
energy-storage
molecules.

Glucose: in all
organisms.
Fructose: in fruit
Sucrose:
disaccharide in
plants. Table sugar.
Starch: in plants,
straight chains
Glycogen: in
animals, branched
chains
Cellulose: chains of
undigestible forms
of glucose. Forms
cell walls & fibers.
Keratin hair
Collagen skin
Actin & myosin
muscle
Hexokinase (enzyme)
attaches a phosphate
to glucose
Hemoglobin
transports oxygen in
blood

Artificial sweeteners
mimic shape of
simple sugars and
fill sweetness taste
receptors.

Form disaccharides
and polysaccharides. Polysaccharides:
energy storage

Polysaccharides:
structure
Protein

Amino acids
(peptides)
C-H with 3 things
attached:
-NH2
-COOH
-R group
R group can be a
variety of things (20
main things)

Amino acids are

bonded into long
chains by
dehydration
synthesis.

Varies widely b/c R

groups vary.

Structure,
movement,
Peptide bonds.
enzymes, can be
metabolized for
Form polypeptides = energy
proteins.
Enzymes = catalysts
Show OH.
-speed reactions
-molecular machines

Structure of proteins
can be looked at on
4 levels:
Primary: sequence
of amino acids
Secondary: Local
folding patterns like
helices and folding.
Tertiary: Larger
folding patterns.
Quaternary:
Bonding together of
proteins.

Molecule Type
Lipid

Nucleic Acid

Subunit (monomers) How subunits are

bonded together
Glycerol and fatty
Dehydration
acids
synthesis bonds 3
fatty acids to 1
Glycerol =
glycerol
backbone of E
C3H6O3
Fatty Acids= bars of Van der Waals
E
forces hold lipid
COOH-R-CH3
molecules together.

Nucleotides,
composed of:
Ribose or
deoxyribose
Nitrogenous base
Phosphate group
4 nitrogenous bases
GATC

Dehydration
synthesis forms
long chain.
Two chains can
form a long double
helix.
H-bonding affects
large molecule.

Functions

Examples

Other Info

Energy storage,
waterproofing,
membranes.

oils, fats, waxes

Saturated fats have

all possible Hs.
-lard, animal fat,
coconut oil

Also includes:
steroids and
cholesterols.

Monounsaturated
and polyunsaturated
have fewer Hs, so
have some double
bonds.
-soy oil, corn oil,
olive oil, fish oils

Carries genetic
information.

Trans fats =
artificially
hydrogenated oils =
BAD.
-margarine,
shortening, fats in
processed food.
DNA, RNA
Sequence of
nucleotides carries
Deoxyribose nucleic information about
acid and ribose
how to make you.
nucleic acid.
Like sequence of
letters.
ATP: very similar
molecule which
carries energy
around the cell