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MACROMOLECULES
Close Reading Packet
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MACROMOLECULES
Before you read:
Take a second to break down today’s topic by using your knowledge of
prefixes. What do you think a macromolecule is?
Answer:
Think back to what you ate for your last meal/snack. Did any of those
food items have a “Nutrition Facts” label on the back of them? If so, and
if you had a look at the food's protein, carbohydrate, or fat content, you
may already be familiar with several types of large biological molecules
we’ll discuss in this informative text.
Take a look at this nutritional label.
▪ How many grams of fat are in this
food?______
▪ How many grams of carbohydrates are in
this food?_____
▪ How many grams of protein are in this
food?_____
Macromolecules, also known as biomolecules, are
large biological molecules that are divided into
four categories: proteins, lipids (fats),
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. These four
macromolecules provide you (and other
organisms) with the building blocks you need to
maintain homeostasis.
What are the 4 basic types of
macromolecules found in living things?
©The Trendy Science Teacher 1
Together, the four macromolecules make up the majority of the dry weight of
a cell. (Water, a small molecule, makes up the majority of the wet weight).
Large biological molecules perform a wide range of jobs in an organism. Some
carbohydrates store fuel for future energy needs, and some lipids are key
structural components of cell membranes. Nucleic acids store and transfer
hereditary information, much of which provides instructions for making
proteins. Proteins themselves have perhaps the broadest range of functions:
some provide structural support, but many are like little machines that carry
out specific jobs in a cell, such as catalyzing metabolic reactions or receiving
and transmitting signals. Before we take a deep dive into understanding each
of the four macromolecules, let’s first define the terms monomer and
polymer.
Monomers and polymers
Most large biological molecules
are polymers, long chains made up of
repeating molecular subunits, or building
blocks, called monomers. If you think of a
monomer as being like a bead, then you
can think of a polymer as being like a
necklace, a series of beads strung together.
Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins
are often found as long polymers in nature. monomer
Because of their polymeric nature and their
large (sometimes huge!) size, they are classified as macromolecules, big
(macro-) molecules made through the joining of smaller subunits.
What are monomers and polymers and
how do they relate to macromolecules?
2
©The Trendy Science Teacher
Let’s investigate each
macromolecule in more detail
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a [Link] ratio. This
means that for every 1 Carbon atom, there are 2
Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom. Sugars and
starches are both types of carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates can be broken down to produce a fast
source of energy for cells. Remember: all living
organisms have to obtain and use energy.
Carbohydrates provide that fast-acting energy for Glucose is a six-carbon
sugar. It is often
living organisms, making them essential for survival. represented by a
Examples of carbohydrates include grains, pastas, hexagon. Each point
on the hexagon
breads, candy and cookies. represents a carbon
(except the point that
has an O (Oxygen).
Carbohydrates, in general, are often referred to as
saccharides. Saccharides are sugars. Remember the term monomer?
Monomers are like building blocks that come together to form polymers.
The monomers for carbohydrates are monosaccharides (one sugar). When
these monosaccharides come together, they form polysaccharides (many
sugars).
Monomer Polymer
Monosaccharide
polysaccharide
(fructose)
Highlight the function of carbohydrates as
well as details about their structure (what
are they made of).
©The Trendy Science Teacher 3
Lipids
Lipids are molecules that include fats, oils, waxes
and cholesterol. Lipids are nonpolar, so they do
not dissolve in water. Like carbohydrates, lipids are
made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms.
Some lipids are broken down and used as energy
in the cells. This energy is used differently by the cell than the energy found
in carbohydrates. The energy that is created from lipids is a long-term
energy source for living organisms. Not only do lipids serve as an energy
source for the cell, but lipids also serve as great insulation for many
organisms, like seals. Other lipids form part of the cell’s structure (we will
dig more into this in a later lesson).
triglyceride Fats and lipids are made of monomers
called fatty acids. Fatty acids are chains of
Fatty acid carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Glycerol
In many lipids, the fatty acid chains are
Fatty acid attached on one end to another molecule
called glycerol. These fats are known as
Fatty acid
triglycerides. These types of fats are found
in butter, oil, and cholesterol.
In other types of lipids, the fatty phospholipid
acid chains are attached to a
Glycerol
phosphate and glycerol head. Fatty acid
Phosphate
These types of fats are known as group
phospholipids and make up the cell Fatty acid
membrane.
Some types of fatty acids are healthy for the body, such as unsaturated
fats (fats that are liquid at room temperature). Other fats, saturated fats,
are considered “bad” fats. These are fats that are solid at room
temperature, like butter.
Color the Fatty Acids (blue), Glycerols
(orange), and the Phosphate group (red)
©The Trendy Science Teacher 4
Proteins
Proteins are the most varied of the
carbon-based molecules in organisms.
They are comprised of Carbon,
Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
There are many different types of proteins and proteins are essential for
life. For example, around 20% of our body is made up of proteins. Every cell
in our body uses proteins to perform functions. For example, some
proteins such as enzymes serve as catalysts, to assist in chemical reactions
of the cell. Other proteins are responsible for structure and support, dense,
and transport.
A protein is a polymer made of monomers
called amino acids. Amino acids are
molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur).
Organisms use 20 different amino acids to
build different types of proteins. Although
there are many different amino acids, they
all have a similarities in their structure.
The image above is
depicting a protein that
consists of more than one
amino acid chain.
Examples of proteins
include meats, nuts,
beans, and enzymes. Amino acids are held
together by peptide bonds.
Highlight the functions of a protein, as well
as information about their structure.
©The Trendy Science Teacher 5
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are molecules that contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen,
Nitrogen and Phosphorus. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are
polymers that are made of monomers called nucleotide. A nucleotide is
comprised of 3 parts: a sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base.
Nucleic acids contain the instruction to build proteins.
Nucleic acids are different from the
other macromolecules discussed.
Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
have many different structures and
functions, whereas nucleic acids
only have one- to code for proteins.
Vocabulary Review
Match each term with its appropriate definition.
1. ____ monomer a. The bond that holds amino acids together.
2. ____polymer b. A smaller part of a larger molecule;
subunit
3. ____carbohydrate c. Made of DNA and RNA
4. ____fatty acid d. A large molecule comprised of smaller
monomers
5. ____protein e. The monomer of a nucleic acid
6. ____amino acid f. Made of C, H, and O and includes starches
and sugars
7. ____lipid g. Made of C, H, and O and includes waxes,
8. ____nucleotide oils, and cholesterol.
h. Molecules that contain C, H, O, and N
9. ____nucleic acid i. A polymer that is comprised of amino
10. ____ peptide bond acids
j. Chains of carbon atoms bonded to
hydrogen atoms (found in lipids)
©The Trendy Science Teacher 6
Reviewing Structure of macros
Draw a line from each structure below to its appropriate macromolecule.
1. Carbohydrate
2. Lipid
3. Protein
4. Nucleic acid
©The Trendy Science Teacher 7
Organizing the information
Complete the graphic organizer using the information outlined in the
reading.
The 4 biomolecules
Elements
Monomers
Function
Examples
©The Trendy Science Teacher 8
Reviewing Key concepts
Write the type(s) of biomolecules being described in each situation below:
1. ________________Responsible for “waterproofing” molecules
2. ________________ Examples include oils, waxes, and butters
3. ________________ Responsible for coding for proteins
4. ________________ Comprised of nucleotides
5. ________________ Comprised of saccharides or sugars
6. ________________ Composed of amino acids
7. ________________ Serve as enzymes that speed up cellular processes
8. ________________ Polymers of amino acids
9. ________________ DNA and RNA are examples of this macromolecule
10. ________________ Breads, pastas, fruits and sweets are examples
11. ________________ Made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
12. ________________ Include triglycerides and phospholipids
Check your understanding
Answer the following questions:
13. On page 3, you learned that carbohydrates are made of sugars or
saccharides. A single sugar molecule is known as a monosaccharide. A
polymer of many sugars create a polysaccharide.
What would a polymer of only two sugars be called? _______________
Three sugars? ____________________
14. Describe 3 complications that a person might experience if their body
does not take in enough protein.
15. How are carbohydrates and lipids similar?
How are they different?
©The Trendy Science Teacher 9
Answer
Key
MACROMOLECULES
Before you read:
Take a second to break down today’s topic by using your knowledge of
prefixes. What do you think a macromolecule is?
Answer: A large molecule
Think back to what you ate for your last meal/snack. Did any of those
food items have a “Nutrition Facts” label on the back of them? If so, and
if you had a look at the food's protein, carbohydrate, or fat content, you
may already be familiar with several types of large biological molecules
we’ll discuss in this informative text.
Take a look at this nutritional label.
▪ How many grams of fat are in this
8g
food?______
▪ How many grams of carbohydrates are in
37 g
this food?_____
▪ How many grams of protein are in this
3g
food?_____
Macromolecules, also known as biomolecules, are
large biological molecules that are divided into
four categories: proteins, lipids (fats),
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. These four
macromolecules provide you (and other
organisms) with the building blocks you need to
maintain homeostasis.
What are the 4 basic types of
macromolecules found in living things?
proteins lipids carbohydrates Nucleic acids
©The Trendy Science Teacher 1
Together, the four macromolecules make up the majority of the dry weight of
a cell. (Water, a small molecule, makes up the majority of the wet weight).
Large biological molecules perform a wide range of jobs in an organism. Some
carbohydrates store fuel for future energy needs, and some lipids are key
structural components of cell membranes. Nucleic acids store and transfer
hereditary information, much of which provides instructions for making
proteins. Proteins themselves have perhaps the broadest range of functions:
some provide structural support, but many are like little machines that carry
out specific jobs in a cell, such as catalyzing metabolic reactions or receiving
and transmitting signals. Before we take a deep dive into understanding each
of the four macromolecules, let’s first define the terms monomer and
polymer.
Monomers and polymers
Most large biological molecules
are polymers, long chains made up of
repeating molecular subunits, or building
blocks, called monomers. If you think of a
monomer as being like a bead, then you
can think of a polymer as being like a
necklace, a series of beads strung together.
Carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and proteins
are often found as long polymers in nature. monomer
Because of their polymeric nature and their
large (sometimes huge!) size, they are classified as macromolecules, big
(macro-) molecules made through the joining of smaller subunits.
What are monomers and polymers and
how do they relate to macromolecules?
Monomers are smaller subunits that are joined to create long
chains, known as polymers.
©The Trendy Science Teacher 2
Let’s investigate each
macromolecule in more detail
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a [Link] ratio. This
means that for every 1 Carbon atom, there are 2
Hydrogen atoms and 1 Oxygen atom. Sugars and
starches are both types of carbohydrates. These
carbohydrates can be broken down to produce a fast
source of energy for cells. Remember: all living
organisms have to obtain and use energy.
Carbohydrates provide that fast-acting energy for Glucose is a six-carbon
sugar. It is often
living organisms, making them essential for represented by a
survival. Examples of carbohydrates include grains, hexagon. Each point
on the hexagon
pastas, breads, candy and cookies. represents a carbon
(except the point that
has an O (Oxygen).
Carbohydrates, in general, are often referred to as
saccharides. Saccharides are sugars. Remember the term monomer?
Monomers are like building blocks that come together to form polymers.
The monomers for carbohydrates are monosaccharides (one sugar).
When these monosaccharides come together, they form polysaccharides
(many sugars).
Monomer Polymer
Monosaccharide
polysaccharide
(fructose)
Highlight the function of carbohydrates as
well as details about their structure (what
are they made of).
3
Lipids
Lipids are molecules that include fats, oils, waxes
and cholesterol. Lipids are nonpolar, so they do
not dissolve in water. Like carbohydrates, lipids are
made of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms.
Some lipids are broken down and used as energy
in the cells. This energy is used differently by the cell than the energy found
in carbohydrates. The energy that is created from lipids is a long-term
energy source for living organisms. Not only do lipids serve as an energy
source for the cell, but lipids also serve as great insulation for many
organisms, like seals. Other lipids form part of the cell’s structure (we will
dig more into this in a later lesson).
triglyceride Fats and lipids are made of monomers
called fatty acids. Fatty acids are chains of
Fatty acid carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.
Glycerol
In many lipids, the fatty acid chains are
Fatty acid attached on one end to another molecule
called glycerol. These fats are known as
Fatty acid
triglycerides. These types of fats are found
in butter, oil, and cholesterol.
In other types of lipids, the fatty phospholipid
acid chains are attached to a
Glycerol
phosphate and glycerol head. Fatty acid
Phosphate
These types of fats are known as group
phospholipids and make up the cell Fatty acid
membrane.
Some types of fatty acids are healthy for the body, such as unsaturated
fats (fats that are liquid at room temperature). Other fats, saturated fats,
are considered “bad” fats. These are fats that are solid at room
temperature, like butter.
Color the Fatty Acids (blue), Glycerols
(orange), and the Phosphate group (red)
©The Trendy Science Teacher 4
Proteins
Proteins are the most varied of the
carbon-based molecules in organisms.
They are comprised of Carbon,
Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
There are many different types of proteins and proteins are essential for
life. For example, around 20% of our body is made up of proteins. Every cell
in our body uses proteins to perform functions. For example, some
proteins such as enzymes serve as catalysts, to assist in chemical
reactions of the cell. Other proteins are responsible for structure and
support, dense, and transport.
A protein is a polymer made of monomers
called amino acids. Amino acids are
molecules that contain carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur).
Organisms use 20 different amino acids to
build different types of proteins. Although
there are many different amino acids,
they all have a similarities in their
The image above is structure.
depicting a protein that
consists of more than one
amino acid chain.
Examples of proteins
include meats, nuts,
beans, and enzymes. Amino acids are held
together by peptide
bonds.
Highlight the functions of a protein, as well
as information about their structure.
©The Trendy Science Teacher 5
Nucleic Acids
Nucleic acids are molecules that contain Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen,
Nitrogen and Phosphorus. There are two types of nucleic acids: DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Nucleic acids are
polymers that are made of monomers called nucleotide. A nucleotide is
comprised of 3 parts: a sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogenous base.
Nucleic acids contain the instruction to build proteins.
Nucleic acids are different from the
other macromolecules discussed.
Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins
have many different structures and
functions, whereas nucleic acids
only have one- to code for proteins.
Vocabulary Review
Match each term with its appropriate definition.
b monomer
1. ____ a. The bond that holds amino acids together.
d
2. ____polymer b. A smaller part of a larger molecule;
subunit
f
3. ____carbohydrate c. Made of DNA and RNA
j
4. ____fatty acid d. A large molecule comprised of smaller
monomers
i
5. ____protein e. The monomer of a nucleic acid
h
6. ____amino acid f. Made of C, H, and O and includes starches
and sugars
g
7. ____lipid g. Made of C, H, and O and includes waxes,
e
8. ____nucleotide oils, and cholesterol.
h. The monomers of a protein
c
9. ____nucleic acid i. A polymer that is comprised of amino
a peptide bond
10. ____ acids
j. Chains of carbon atoms bonded to
hydrogen atoms (found in lipids)
©The Trendy Science Teacher 6
Reviewing Structure of macros
Draw a line from each structure below to its appropriate macromolecule.
1. Carbohydrate
2. Lipid
3. Protein
4. Nucleic acid
©The Trendy Science Teacher 7
Organizing the information
Complete the graphic organizer using the information outlined in the
reading.
The 4 biomolecules
carbohydrates lipids proteins Nucleic acids
Elements
C, H, O C, H, O C, H, O, N C, H, O, N, P
Monomers
monosaccharides Fatty acids Amino acids nucleotides
Comprise the Serves as Code for
support, proteins-
Function
Immediate cell membrane
and serves as defense, responsible for
energy source transmitting
long term controls
for the cell hereditary
energy storage chemical
for the cell reactions information
Breads, pastas, Butters, fats, Meats, eggs,
Examples
sugars, fibers, oils, waxes, nuts, beans DNA & RNA
starches cholesterol
©The Trendy Science Teacher 8
Reviewing Key concepts
Write the type(s) of biomolecules being described in each situation below:
lipids
1. ________________Responsible for “waterproofing” molecules
2. lipids
________________ Examples include oils, waxes, and butters
3. Nucleic acids
________________ Responsible for coding for proteins
4. Nucleic acids
________________ Comprised of nucleotides
5. carbohydrates
________________ Comprised of saccharides or sugars
6. Proteins
________________ Composed of amino acids
7. Proteins
________________ Serve as enzymes that speed up cellular processes
8. Proteins
________________ Polymers of amino acids
9. Nucleic acids
________________ DNA and RNA are examples of this macromolecule
10. carbohydrates
________________ Breads, pastas, fruits and sweets are examples
11. Lipids and carbohydrates Made of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen
________________
12. lipids
________________ Include triglycerides and phospholipids
Check your understanding
Answer the following questions:
13. On page 3, you learned that carbohydrates are made of sugars or
saccharides. A single sugar molecule is known as a monosaccharide. A
polymer of many sugars create a polysaccharide.
disaccharide
What would a polymer of only two sugars be called? _______________
trisaccharide
Three sugars? ____________________
14. Describe 3 complications that a person might experience if their body
does not take in enough protein.
Weak immune system, slow cellular processes, lack of transport through the cell, weak
support system.
15. How are carbohydrates and lipids similar?
They both are macromolecules that are essential for life and are comprised of carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen
How are they different?
They have different structures and functions. For example, carbs are a fast-acting source of energy
while lipids are a long term energy storage.
©The Trendy Science Teacher 9
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