Unit 3 (Module 6 - Biomolecules)

Introduction

GOOD DAY AND GOOD LIFE TO YOU MY DEAR LEARNERS…

. Biomolecule or biological molecule refers to the molecules found

in organisms that are crucial to various  biological processes, namely  cell
division, morphogenesis, or development. They could be large (macrobiomolecules or
polyanions) or small (microbiomolecules). Macrobiomolecules include
proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. Microbiomolecules are consisting of
the primary metabolites, secondary metabolites and natural products. Biomolecules are
normally endogenous or produced within the organism however organisms also
need exogenous biomolecules like certain nutrients for survival. Biomolecules are the
smallest fundamental unit of organic compounds. They are so small yes, but they are
very vital to sustain life.

The nature of the biomolecules can be best exemplified by this quote, “what is
essential is invisible to the naked eye” from the novel The Little Prince written by
Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Truly, the fundamental nature of importance has nothing to
do neither with physical presence nor size. My dear students just continue and never
stop from learning . Always remember that the essence of being significant is not a
matter of “who you are” but “what you can do regardless of your stature in life”. In short,
“SMALL AS IT MAY SEEM BUT VERY RELEVANT”…just like the biomolecules , right?

This module will introduce you the classes of biomolecules, functional groups
and the macrobiomolecules in particular. Also the physical principles involved in various
biological processes will be tackled during the sessions and in the additional learning
materials to be sent to you.

Objectives

After learning from this module it s expected that you have attained the following:

1. Describe the types of macromolecules in terms of structure and function

2. Explain some physical concepts and their significance in the different
biological processes
 Please Read…

The details of the topics will be discussed during the scheduled Zoom
or Google Meet sessions so please find ways to attend them. Questions
about the topics can be asked during the sessions. Other queries can still be
sent in Facebook Messenger . An E-copy of the lectures and additional
reading materials and links will be sent for every topic in the group chat.

Classes of Biomolecules

All organisms are made up of cells. There is a saying that goes…”the cell is the
basic unit of life”, on the other hand we have also these building blocks making up the
cells. The cells are comprised almost entirely of just four basic types of molecules- the
carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic Acids. These are the building blocks of the
cell.

Kindly click on the following links…

https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169
https://biostudizz.weebly.com/biomolecules.html
https://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/jpa-00215496/document
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK214486/

Functional Groups

A functional group is a specific group of atoms within a molecule responsible for

the characteristic of that molecule. Regardless of the molecule size where the
functional group is; same functional group will go through similar chemical reaction(s).

Kindly click on the following links for further elucidation of the topic…

https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_California_Davis/BIS_2A
%3A_Introductory_Biology_(Britt)/Readings/08%3A_Functional_Groups
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-biology1/chapter/functional-groups-2/
https://dlc.dcccd.edu/biology1-3/functional-groups-and-biomolecules
Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are made of building blocks of sugars, and is classified based on

the number of sugar units present in their molecule. Single-unit sugars are known as
monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose and galactose. Double-unit sugars are
called disaccharides, among which are sucrose (table sugar) and lactose (milk sugar).
A polysaccharide is a large molecule made of many smaller monosaccharides. They act
as food stores in plants and animals. Oligosaccharides are a type of carbohydrate
formed when three to 10 simple sugars are linked together. The derivatives of
carbohydrates include many other important biomolecules that are crucial in
the immune system, fertilization, preventing pathogenesis, blood clotting,
and development.

Follow the links below for more…

https://www.livescience.com/51976-carbohydrates.html
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169
https://biostudizz.weebly.com/biomolecules.html
https://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/

Lipids

Lipids are a group of organic compounds mostly insoluble in water. They yield
high energy and composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Fats and oils are
forms of lipids. The three primary biological functions of lipids within the body are: they
serve as structural components of cell membranes; function as energy storehouses and
function as important signaling molecules. Types of lipids include triacylglycerols (also
called triglycerides), phospholipids, and sterols. Triacylglycerols are found in food such
as fried foods, vegetable oil and milk, avocados , corn and nuts among others.
Phospholipids are essential for building the cell membrane. In blood and body fluids,
they form structures in which fat is enclosed and transported throughout the
bloodstream.

Follow the links below for a better understanding…

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-wmopen-biology1/chapter/lipids/
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169
https://biostudizz.weebly.com/biomolecules.html
https://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/
Proteins

Proteins are made up of many building blocks, known as amino acids. There are
twenty different of these amino acid building blocks commonly found in plants and
animals. A typical protein is made up of 300 or more amino acids and the specific
number and sequence of amino acids are unique to each protein. Every species,
including humans, has its own characteristic proteins. Amino acids are classified as
either essential or non-essential. Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body
and therefore must be supplied through our diet. On the other hand, non-essential
amino acids can be produced by the body.

Kindly click on the following links for a better learning…

https://www.eufic.org/en/whats-in-food/article/what-are-proteins-and-what-is-
their-function-in-the-body
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/howgeneswork/protein
https://www.livescience.com/53044-protein.html
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169
https://biostudizz.weebly.com/biomolecules.html
https://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/

Nucleic Acids

A nucleic acid is a chain of nucleotides which stores genetic information in

biological systems. It creates DNA and RNA, which store the information needed by
cells to create proteins. This information is stored in multiple sets of three nucleotides,
known as codons. The name comes from the fact that these molecules are acids – that
is, they are good at donating protons and accepting electron pairs in chemical reactions
and the fact that they were first discovered in the nuclei of our cells. All life forms use
nucleic acids as their medium for recording hereditary information.

Refer to the following links for more information…

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Nucleic-Acid
https://www.thoughtco.com/nucleic-acids-373552
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169
https://biostudizz.weebly.com/biomolecules.html
https://www.cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/
 IMPORTANT

My dear students, kindly answer the self assessment quiz without looking at
Self
theAssessment
answers. ThisQuizintends you to remember and internalize the concepts presented
in this module. Remember that there are still term exams, quizzes and other
(True or False)
requirements as bases in evaluating your academic performance. Accomplishing
the self assessment quiz and activity with full integrity and honesty will help you
1. Biomolecules
achieve real learning. are
My the
trustbuilding
is with blocks
you. of the cell

2. Accomplishments
The cells are comprised almost entirely
on the assigned of the macrobiomolecules
tasks/activities shall be submitted 2 weeks
after the discussion of the module. Submit your accomplished tasks to this email
address
3. A: biophysicstanay@gmail.com
functional group provides characteristics of the molecule in which it is a part
of

4. Glucose, fructose and galactose are disaccharides

5. Sucrose and lactose are disaccharides

6. Triacylglycerols are found in food

7. Phospholipids are essential for building the cell membrane.

8. Essential amino acids cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be
supplied through our diet

9. Nucleic acids creates DNA and RNA, which store the information needed by
cells to create proteins

10. Non-essential amino acids can be produced by the body

Answer to Self Assessment Questions

1. T

2. T

3. T

4. F

5. F

6. T

7. T

8. T

9. T

10. T
 References

Biomolecule. Retrieved on July 21, 2020 from https://www.greenfacts.

org/glossary/abc/biomolecule.htm

Biomolecule. Retrieved on July 22, 2017 from https://www.sciencedirect. com/topics

/engineering/biomolecule

Biomolecules (Introduction, Structure and Functions)- Carbohydrates. Retrieved on July

22, 2017 from https://www.academia.edu/1114817/Biomolecules Introduction_Structure
and Functions_-_Carbohydrates

Biological Molecules . Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://courses. lumenlearning.

com/biology1/chapter/biological-molecules/

Biomolecules — Open Access Journal. Retrieved on July 22, 2017 from https://www.
mdpi.com/journal/biomolecules

Biomolecules. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://biostudizz.weebly.com

/biomolecules.html

Biomolecules: Top 4 Classes of Biomolecules. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from

https://www.biologydiscussion.com/biomolecules/biomolecules-top-4-classes-of-
biomolecules/11169

FunctionalGroups.Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://bio.libretexts.org/

Courses/University_of_California_Davis/BIS_2A
%3A_Introductory_Biology_(Britt)/Readings/08%3A_Functional_Groups

Functional Groups. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://courses. lumenlearning.

com/wm-biology1/chapter/functional-groups-2/

Functional Groups and Molecules. Retrieved on July 21,2020 from https://dlc.dcccd.

edu/biology1-3/functional-groups-and-biomolecules

Lipids. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-

wmopen-biology1/chapter/lipids/

Nucleic Acid. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://www.genome.gov/genetics-

glossary/Nucleic-Acid

Nucleic Acids. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://www.thoughtco.com/nucleic-

acids-373552
Overview of Molecules. Retrieved on July 21, 2020 from http://med.fau.edu/students/md
m1_orientation/Overview.pdf

Structure and Function. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://www.asbmb.org

/education/core-concept-teaching-strategies/foundational-concepts/structure-function

The Biological Building Blocks. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://www.
cancerquest.org/cancer-biology/biological-building-blocks

Understanding Biomolecular Processes: Toward Principles That Govern Biomaterial

Design. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK214486/

What are Proteins and their Functions in the Body. Retrieved on July 22, 2020 from
https://www.eufic.org/en/whats-in-food/article/what-are-proteins-and-what-is-their-
function-in-the-body

What are proteins and what do they do? Retrieved on July 21, 2020 from https://ghr.nlm
.nih.gov/primer/howgeneswork/protein