SCIENCE 10

QUARTER 4
Module 2:
Biomolecules
 Lesson 1:
Major
Categories of
Biomolecules
There are certain complex
organic molecules which
form the basis of life. These
substances are part of the
chemical composition of all
living organisms. These
substances are also required
for their growth,
maintenance and even for
survival in extreme
environment conditions.
These substances are called
The main classes of
biomolecules are:
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids.
These are
macromolecules -
large molecules
composed of
thousands of
covalently connected
atoms.
Remember that biomolecules
build up living organisms and
are also required for their growth
and maintenance. They are any
of the numerous substances that
are produced by cells and living
organisms.
Biomolecules have a wide
range of sizes and structures
and perform a vast array of
functions; thus, they are
composed of different kinds
of elements.
There are six (6) most
common elements that can
be found in biomolecules.
These are called CHNOPS or
CHONSP elements; the
letters stand for the chemical
abbreviations of the names
of these elements.
 CHNOP
S
HYDROGEN OXYGEN SULFUR
CARBON
NITROGEN PHOSPHORUS
There are four major
classes of
Biomolecules
CARBOHYDRATES
:
PROTEINS
NUCLEIC ACID
LIPIDS
The table below shows the elements that are
present in the major classes of biomolecules.
Macromolecules Elements Present

Carbohydrates carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

Proteins carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur

Nucleic Acid carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur (lipids can also contain N, but for
most cases, this is sufficient)

Lipids carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur

These molecules are comprised of the elements
carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O).
Commonly, these molecules are known as
sugars. Carbohydrates can range in size from
very small to very large. Like all the other
biomolecules, carbohydrates are often built into
long chains by stringing together smaller units.
This works like adding beads to a bracelet to
make it longer. The general term for a single
unit or bead is a monomer. The term for a long
string of monomers is a polymer. Examples of
carbohydrates include the sugars found in milk
(lactose) and table sugar (sucrose).
Carbohydrates are chemically defined as
polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones or
compounds which produce them on hydrolysis.
In layman’s terms, we acknowledge
carbohydrates as sugars or substances that
taste sweet. They are collectively called as
saccharides (Greek: sakcharon = sugar).
Depending on the number of sugar units,
carbohydrates can be as monosaccharides (1
sugar unit), oligosaccharides (2-10 sugar
units) and or polysaccharides (more than
10 sugar units).
cells. They are an excellent source of
energy for the many different activities
going on in our cells. Some carbohydrates
may have a structural function. For
example, the material that makes plants
stand tall and gives wood its tough
properties, is a polymer form of glucose
known as cellulose. Other types of sugar
polymers make up the stored forms of
energy known as starch and glycogen.
Starch is found in plant products such as
potatoes, and glycogen is found in
animals.
 Protein
Proteins are another class of indispensable biomolecules,
which make up around 50 percent of the cellular dry
weight. Proteins are comprised of the elements carbon,
nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen and sometimes sulfur.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids, arranged in the
form of chain called polypeptide. Depending on how the
structure of a protein is arranged, it gives rise to a certain
level of structural organization. The level can be classified
as primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.
 Protein
Proteins play both structural and dynamic roles. They help form many of
the structural features of the body including hair, nails and muscles.
Myosin is the protein that allows movement by contraction of muscles
Proteins are also present as a major component of cell membranes. Being
part of cell membranes, proteins act as carriers or channels, facilitating
the movement of ions and molecules in and out of the cells. Ions like
sodium, potassium and chloride, molecules like glucose are maintained at
proper concentration for cells to function normally. Proteins also acts as
catalyst. A large group of proteins, known as enzymes, enable the cells to
carry out chemical reactions fast. In order for the organism to maintain
growth and survival, the food being consumed must be converted to
energy at an appreciable rate.
Lipids
The term lipid refers to a wide variety of biomolecules
including fats, oils, waxes and steroid hormones.
Regardless of their structure, location or function in a
cell/body, all lipids share common features that enable
them to be grouped together. They do not dissolve in
water; they are hydrophobic. The hydrophobic nature
of the lipids dictates many of their uses in biological
systems. Lipids are composed primarily of carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur (lipids
also contain nitrogen in some cases). Fats are a
good source of stored energy while oils and waxes are
used to form protective layers on our skin, preventing
infection. Some lipids, the steroid hormones, are
important regulators of cell activity. The activities of
Nucleic Acid
Nucleic acid, naturally occurring chemical compound that is
capable of being broken down to yield phosphoric acid, sugars,
and a mixture of organic bases (purines and pyrimidines).
Nucleic acids are the main information-carrying molecules of
the cell, and, by directing the process of protein synthesis, they
determine the inherited characteristics of every living thing.
These molecules are comprised of elements carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen, phosphorus and nitrogen. The two main classes of
nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic
acid (RNA).
Nucleic Acid
DNA is the master blueprint for life and constitutes
the genetic material in all free living organisms and
most viruses. DNA contains the information on what
proteins will be created. On the other hand, RNA is
the one responsible to create the proteins based on
the information given by the DNA. RNA is the
genetic material of certain viruses, but it is also
found in all living cells.
Nucleic Acid
Nucleic acids are polynucleotides— that is,
long chainlike molecules composed of a series
of nearly identical building blocks called
nucleotides. Each nucleotide consists of a
nitrogen-containing aromatic base attached
to a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, which is in
turn attached to a phosphate group. Each
nucleic acid contains four of five possible
nitrogen-containing bases: adenine (A),
guanine (G), cytosine (C), thymine (T), and
uracil (U). A and G are categorized as purines,
while C, T, and U are collectively called
pyrimidines.
Nucleic Acid
Biomolecules have a single basic building unit
called a monomer. It comes from the Greek
words monos, meaning "single" and meros
meaning "part”.
Nucleic Acid
A monomer is a single unit forming a long chain of molecules
creating a repeated pattern. The long chain molecule is now
composed of many atoms. Monomers are joined together to form
polymers. The prefix “-poly” comes from the Greek word polus,
meaning “many”, so polymer means "many parts." This is a long
molecule consisting of many similar building blocks, or a repeated
pattern of various building blocks.
What do macromolecules do?
Macromolecule Elements present Monomer Examples Uses

Carbohydrates carbon, hydrogen, monosaccharides glucose, energy storage;

oxygen fructose, starch, structure
glycogen,
cellulose
Proteins carbon, hydrogen, amino acids enzymes, some Storage; signals;
oxygen, nitrogen, hormones structural; defensive;
sulfur catalyst; transport;
receptors
Lipids carbon, hydrogen, fatty acid Butter, oil, energy storage,
oxygen, cholesterol, protection, chemical
phosphorus, sulfur beeswax messengers, repel
water
nucleic acids carbon, hydrogen, nucleotides DNA, RNA genetic information
oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus
thanks!!
GROUP 2
LEADER:
CORTES, LEONELLE GRACE

MEMBERS:
ABALAYAN, CLARIES CERVALES,JERICK
ALEGA, KREZEL GALE DELUSO,JOHN AXCEL
ASTURIAS, LUISON NAVARRO,ROD
BALDERA,ALEXA
ROBISO, NICOLE ROSE