87314094-83be-428d-9d4d-a459e43691a9
87314094-83be-428d-9d4d-a459e43691a9
87314094-83be-428d-9d4d-a459e43691a9
BIOMOLECULES
Biomolecules
All the carbon compounds that we get from living tissues.
Biomicromolecules: Molecules which have molecular weights less than one thousand Dalton.
They are also known as monomers.
Biomacromolecules: Have molecular weight more than 10000 Daltons (generally 10,000
Daltons and above). They are generally polymers. A biomolecule a with molecular weight in
the range of ten thousand daltons and above; found in acid insoluble fraction. e.g.
polysaccharides, nucleic acids, proteins and lipids.
Amino acids
Organic compounds containing an amino group and one carboxyl group (acid group) and both
these groups are attached to the same carbon atom called α carbon and so they are called
amino acids.
e.g. In Glycine R = H
In alanine R = CH3
In serine R = CH2 – OH
Twenty types of amino acids. Amino acid exists in Zwitterionic form at different pHs.
BIOLOGY BIOMOLECULES
Based on number of amino and carboxyl groups, amino acids can be:
Aromatic: Tryptophan, phenylalanine and Tyrosine are aromatic (give smell) amino acids.
Proteins: Proteins are polypeptide chains made up of amino acids. There are 20 types of
amino acids joined together by peptide bond between amino and carboxylic group. There are
two kinds of amino acids.
Essential amino acids are obtained by living organism along with food.
Non-essential amino acids can be prepared by our body from raw materials.
Biological macromolecules
There are three main types of biological macromolecules, according to mammalian systems:
Carbohydrates
Nucleic acids
Proteins
Lipids
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are polymers of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They can be
classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Carbohydrates are found in
starch, fruits, vegetables, milk and sugars. They are an important source of a healthy diet.
BIOLOGY BIOMOLECULES
Nucleic Acids: The nucleic acids include DNA and RNA that are the polymers of nucleotides.
Nucleotides comprise a pentose group, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base group. All
the hereditary information is stored in the DNA. The DNA synthesized into RNA and proteins.
Proteins: Proteins are the polymers of amino acids. These include the carboxylic and the
amino group. There would be no lipids or carbohydrates without proteins because the
enzymes used for their synthesis are proteins themselves.
Lipids: Lipids are a hydrophobic set of macromolecules, i.e., they do not dissolve in water.
These involve triglycerides, carotenoids, phospholipids, and steroids. They help in the
formation of the cell membrane, formation of hormones and in the and as stored fuel.
Unsaturated
With one or more double bonds, e.g., oleic acid, linoleic acid.
Glycerol
A simple lipid, is trihydroxy propane.
Some lipid have fatty acids esterified with glycerol. Example of fatty acid (Palmitic acid)
Nucleotide: Nitrogenous base + Sugar + Phosphate group. e.g. Adenylic acid, Guanylic acid.
Thymidylic acid.
Examples of Macromolecules:
Synthetic Fibres
Nylon, rayon and spandex consist entirely of macromolecules. These are created in
certain steps:
The monomers are reacted to make prepolymers or a liquid, primitive macromolecule.
In the next step, the prepolymers are fed through a cell where it solidifies and attains
the desired thickness. This process is called spinning.
Genetic Transfer: DNA is a genetic material that contains nucleic acids which code for genetic
material. During meiosis, the DNA is no longer a whole, and the nucleotides that remain are
responsible for transferring the genetic information to the gametes.
Structure of Proteins
Primary structure: Is found in the form of linear sequence of amino acids. First amino
acid is called N-terminal amino acid and last amino acid is called C-terminal amino acid.
Secondary structure: Polypeptide chain undergoes folding or coiling which is stabilized-
by hydrogen bonding. Right handed helices are observed; e.g., fibrous protein in hair,
nails.
Tertiary structure: Long protein chain is folded upon itself like a hollow woollen ball.
Gives a 3-dimensional view of protein, e.g., myosin.
Quaternary structure: Two or more polypeptides with their folding’s and coiling’s are
arranged with respect to each other, e.g., Human haemoglobin molecule has 4 peptide
chains - 2 α and 2 β Subunits.
BIOLOGY BIOMOLECULES
Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are joined by glycosidic bond, right end is reducing and left end is non
reducing.
Polysaccharides
Are long chain of polymers of monosaccharides.
Starch: Store house of energy in plant tissues. Forms helical secondary structures, made
of only glucose monomers.
Cellulose: Homopolymer of glucose. It does not certain complex helices. Cotton fibre is
cellulose.
Glycogen: Is a branched homopolymer, found as storage polysaccharide in animals.
Insulin: Is a polymer of fructose.
Chitin: Chemically modified sugar (amino-sugars) N-acetyl galactosamine form
exoskeleton of arthropods; heterpolymer.
Metabolic Pathways
There are two types of metabolic pathways:
Glycosidic bond: Bond formed between two carbon atoms of two adjacent monosaccharides.,
by dehydration.
Phosphodiester bond: Bond formed in nucleic acids where in a phosphate moiety links the 3-
carbon of one sugar of one nucleotide to the 5-carbon of the sugar of the succeeding
nucleotide. (The bond between phosphate group and hydroxyl group of sugar)
Enzymes
BIOLOGY BIOMOLECULES
Co-factors
Co-factors are the non-protein constituent of an enzyme which make the enzyme more
catalytically active. The protein portions of enzyme are called apoenzyme.
Prosthetic group: These are organic compound which tightly bound to the apoenzyme.
e. g., Haem is prosthetic group in peroxidase and catalase.
Coenzyme: These are organic compounds whose association with the apoenzyme is
only transient, usually occurring during the course of catalysis.
e.g., Coenzyme Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and NADP contain vitamin
niacin.
Metal ions: Metal ions form coordination bond with side chains at the active site and at
the same time form one or more coordination bond with substrate.
e.g., zinc in enzyme carboxy peptidase.
BIOLOGY BIOMOLECULES
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
Important Questions
Multiple Choice Questions:
Question 1. Glucose is a
(a) Ketose hexose sugar
(b) Pyronose pentose sugar
(c) Aldose hexose sugar
(d) Furanose pentose sugar.
Question 2. Lactose molecule is composed of
(a) Fructose+Fructose
(b) Glucose+Fructose
(c) Glucose+Glucose
(d) Glucose+Galactose.
Question 3. Which group contains all polysaccharides?
(a) Glycogen, sucrose and maltose
(b) Maltose, lactose and sucrose
(c) Glycogen, glucose and sucrose
(d) Glycogen, cellulose and starch.
Question 4. Amino acids are formed from
(a) Proteins
(b) Fatty acids
(c) Volatile acid
(d) α < -keto acids.
Question 5. A nucleoside is formed of
(a) Phosphate and nitrogen base
(b) Pentose sugar and phosphate
(c) Pentose sugar, phosphate and nitrogen base
(d) Pentose sugar and nitrogen base.
Question 6. The most abundant component of a cell is
(a) Lipid
(b) Protein
(c) Water
(d) Cellulose
Question 7. Maximum amount of iron occures in
(a) Proteins
(b) Bone cells
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
(c) Leucocytes
(d) Erythrocytes.
Question 8. Calcium is required for
(a) Blood clotting
(b) Bone formation
(c) Muscle contraction
(d) All of these.
Question 9. Immediate source of energy is
(a) ATP
(b) Glucose
(c) NADH
(d) Pyruvic acid.
Question 10. An amino acid without an asymetrical carbon atoms
(a) Glycine
(b) Threonine.
(c) Proline
(d) Histidine.
Question 11. The most abundant protein is
(a) Glycine
(b) Valine
(c) Arginine
(d) Collagen
Question 12. Basic unit of nucleic acid is
(a) Pentose sugar
(b) Nucleotide
(c) Phosphoric acid
(d) Nitrogen base.
Question 13. The amino acids which are not synthesized in our body are called
(a) Deaminated
(b) Non-essential
(c) Essential
(d) Proteinaceous.
Question 14. Which of the following is a non-reducing sugar?
(a) Lactose
(b) Glucose
(c) Maltose
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
(d) Sucrose.
Question 15. The primary structure of a protein is due to
(a) ionic bonds
(b) hydrogen
(c) Peptide bonds
(d) S-S linkage
Fill In the Blanks:
1. All the elements present in a sample of ………….. are also present in a sample of living tissue.
2. One is called the filtrate or more technically, the acid soluble, peol, and the second, the
retentate or the acid insoluble ………..
3. One ………… and ………… a compound.
4. Amino acids are ……………… containing an amino group and an acidic group as substituents
on the some carbon i.e., the α < -carbon
5. The …………… and ………… properties of amino acids are essentially of the amino, carboxyl and
the ‘R’ functional groups.
6. ………… are generally water insoluble.
True or False:
1. Biomacromolecules are polymers. They are made of building blocks which are different.
2. Proteins are heteropolymers made of starch acids.
3. Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) are composed of nucleotides.
4. Enzyme, are composed of one or several polypeptide chains.
5. When the binding of the chemical shuts off enzyme activity, the process is called inhibition
and the chemical is called an inhibitor.
6. When the inhibitor closely resembles the substrate in its mo-lecular structure and inhibits the
activity of the enzyme, it is known as competitive inhibitor.
Very Short Question:
1. What is hydrolysis?
2. Define fatty acid.
3. What are iso-enzymes?
4. Give the names of 2 non-polar organic solvents that are used for lipid extraction from cells.
5. Name one monosaccharide sugar that is found in the blood plasma of human beings.
6. What is the function of calcium in the human body?
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
(i) Chooose the correct characteristics about the polysaccharide molecule shown above.
I. It is a storage polysaccharide in animal cells only.
II. It gives red colour on reaction with iodine.
III. It is a branched homopolysaccharide.
IV. It contains repeating units of fructose only.
(a) I and IV
(b) II, III and IV
(c) Only III
(d) I, II and III
(ii) All the listed polysaccharides are homopolymers except
(a) starch
(b) glycogen
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
(c) chitin
(d) cellulose
(iii) Inulin is a polymer of
(a) glucose
(b) fructose
(c) glucose + sucrose
(d) fructose + galactans
(iv) A polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of crabs is
(a) cellulose
(b) pectin
(c) murein
(d) chitin
(v) Murein is a heteropolysaccharide like
(a) araban
(b) xylan
(c) hyaluronic acid
(d) agar
2. Identify the molecular structure of lipid molecule and answer the questions that follow
(i) Choose the incorrect characteristic about the lipid molecule shown above
I. It is a common sterol molecule.
II. It is the precursor of steroid hormones.
III. The given molecule has a steroid nucleus, a hydrocarbon side chain, and a hydroxyl group.
IV. Cholesterol is soluble in blood and thus transport through bloodstream easily.
(a) Only IV
(b) III and IV
(c) I and II
(d) Only II
(ii) Lipids mainly consist of
(a) carbon only
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
1. Answer: Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed into
still smaller carbohydrates. The general formula is Cn H2n On e.g. Ribose, Glucose, Fructose.
2. Answer: A disaccharide is a sugar molecule composed of two monosaccharide sub-units e.g.
a molecule of sucrose is formed from a molecule of glucose and a molecule of fructose by
dehydration.
3. Answer: Like carbohydrates, fats are made up of C, H, and O but they contain fewer oxygen
molecules than carbohydrates. On oxidation they consume more oxygen releasing more
energy.
4. Answer: Calcium is impregnated in bones and teeth. It provides them with strength and
rigidity.
Calcium is deposited in the middle lamella in the form of calcium pectate.
5. Answer: The collection of various types of molecules in a cell is termed a cellular pool.
The characteristics of small molecules in the cellular pool are
Low molecular weight
Simple molecular conformation.
Higher solubility.
6. Answer: Fat or lipids are esters of glycerol and fatty acids. They are made up of C, H, and O
but include proportionately less oxygen as compared to carbohydrates. They are insoluble in
water and soluble in non-polar organic solvents.
Functions of subcutaneous fat are
Storage of food (chemical form of energy).
Shock absorption.
Insulation.
7. Answer: Amino acids are condensed together to form a peptide chain. The bond is formed
between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of adjacent amino acid.
This is called a peptide bond and it is formed by dehydration.
8. Answer: Phospholipids are lipids containing phosphate groups e.g. phosphoglyceride. They
have a hydrophilic polar head and a hydrophobic non-polar tail.
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
Long Answer:
1. Answer:
i. Monosaccharides are formed during the photosynthetic pathway. They are stored in plants and
are utilized by other living organisms depending on them.
ii. Glucose is the blood sugar of many animals and on oxidation, it provides energy for all vital
activities.
iii. Nucleotides and nucleosides contain pentose sugar in the form of ribose and deoxyribose
sugars. They form a part of nucleic acids.
iv. Lactose of milk is formed from glucose and galactose and mammary glands of mammals.
v. Glucose is used for the synthesis of fats and amino acids.
vi. Structural polysaccharides like cellulose and oligosaccharides are derived from mono-
saccharides.
vii. Food storage polysaccharides like starch and glycogen are derived from monosaccharides.
2. Answer:
1. Lipids are storage products in plants as well as animals.
(a) In plants, fats are stored in cotyledons or endosperm to provide nourishment to the
developing embryo.
(b) In animals fats are stored in adipocytes to be used whenever required by the body.
2. In animals, subcutaneous fats act as an insulation layer and shock \ absorber.
3. They form structural components of membranes, phospholipids, glycolipids, and sterols.
4. They take part in the synthesis of steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile salts.
5. Act as a solvent for fat-soluble vitamins i.e., vitamin A, D, E, and K.
6. The neutral fats form a concentrated fuel producing more than twice as much energy per gram
as do the carbohydrates. They thus, represent an economical food reserve in the body.
7. The wax lipids form a waterproof protective coating on animal furs, plant stem, leaves, and
fruits.
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
3. Answer: Some substances, capable of neutralizing acids or bases, remain in solution in the
cytoplasm as extracellular fluids, e.g., bicarbonate (HCO3), carbonic acid, dibasic phosphate
(HPO4-2). Acids and bases mix in the body fluids with these substances and are neutralized by
them. Because of its solvent action water aids in keeping a constant pH.
Water also helps in maintaining constant body temperature by eliminating excess heat through
the evaporation of sweat. Elimination of waste products through urine also helps in maintaining
the constancy of the internal environment of an organism.
4. Answer: Peroxisomes: These were for the first time observed in the kidney of rodents. They are
found both in plants and animals. Their size varies from 0.5 to lp in diameter. They are delimited
by a single membrane and contain a finely granular matrix. They often possess a central core
called nucleoid which may consist of parallel tubules or twisted with strands. Peroxisomes are
generally observed in close association with the endoplas¬mic reticulum.
Peroxisomes in different plant and animal cells differ con¬siderably in their enzymatic make-up,
but they contain some peroxide-producing enzymes like urate, oxidase, D-amino acid oxidase, B-
hydroxy acid oxidase, and catalase. Peroxisomes are somehow associated with some metabolic
processes like photorespiration and lipid metabolism in animal cells.
Sphaerosomes: There are cell organelles bounded by a single membrane. They contain enzymes
and are visible under the light microscope. These show some affinities for fat stains, including
Sudan stain and sodium tetroxide.
These organelles originate from E.R. by budding. They contain enzymatic proteins which help in
synthesizing oils and fats. Further devel¬opment of phagosomes takes place through an increase
in the lipid content with a concomitant decrease in protein.
5. Answer: Energy carriers consist of nucleotides having one or two additional phosphate groups
linked up at their phosphate end forming diphosphates and triphosphates. Linkage of additional
phosphate groups occurs at the cost of a large amount of energy. This energy is provided by the
oxidation of food mainly glucose and by photosynthesis.
Separation of the additional phosphate groups from the nucleotides by enzymatic hydrolysis
releases a correspondingly large amount of energy.
Thus, ADP and ATP provide ready energy for biological activities.
The bonds joining the additional phosphate groups to the nucleotides are called high energy or
energy-rich bonds, as they carry a great deal of energy. The nucleotides having more than one
phosphate group are called higher nucleotides.
The energy of energy carriers, when set free is utilized for driving energy-dependent reactions in
the cell and is biologically useful energy. ATP is the most common energy carrier in cells and is
often called the energy currency of the cell.
Assertion Reason Answer-
1. (d) If both Assertion and Reason are false.
SCIENCE BIOMOLECULES
Explanation: The living systems are in metabolic flux and thus, maintain the concentration of
biomolecules, always remaining in nonequilibrium steady state where equilibrium is seldom
achieved. No work can be carried out in equilibrium state. Living systems are therefore, regularly
receiving an input of energy to prevent reaching an equilibrium and always remain in non-
equilibrium steady state. Energy is obtained from metabolism. Metabolism and living state are
thus, complementary and synonymous.
2. (c) If Assertion is true but Reason is false.
Explanation: After performing elemental analysis of a plant tissue, animal tissue, microbial
paste (living matter) and of a piece of earth’s crust (animate object), it was found that all living
and non-living systems are made up of same chemical i.e., elements (e.g. carbon, hydrogen,
oxygen and several others). Most living organisms have relatively high abundance of carbon and
hydrogen than in earth’s crust.
Case Study Question-
1. Answer:
(i) (d)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (b)
(iv) (d)
(v) (c)
2. Answer:
(i) (a)
(ii) (c)
(iii) (b)
(iv) (d)
(v) (c)