Question

List the four categories of organic macromolecules, a specific example of each one, and what each of their monomers are.

Answer 1

Macromolecules are those compounds which are composed of various smaller units to form a large complex molecule. Organic macromolecules are those which constitute of carbon atoms mainly. There are majorly of four types -

• Carbohydrate
• Protein
• Fat /lipid
• Nucleic acid

Example of carbohydrate include -- Glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch etc

Monomer unit of carbohydrate -- monosaccharide is the monomer ie, of all the above carbohydrate.

Monomer is defined as the simplest or the smallest form of that compound. For example, sucrose is a Disaccharide. This is broken down to form glucose and fructose which are monosaccharide. They act as a monomer unit. It means many fructose and glucose join to form a sucrose molecules.

Example of protein -- keratin present in human hair , enzymes or hormone present in our body are protein substance.

Monomer unit of protein -- Amino acids

Many amino acids are joined together to form a protein.

Example of lipids -- cell membranes formed of Phospholipid, steroid etc

Monomer of lipid -- fatty acids and glycerol

We learned the structure of cell membranes. It is formed by a Phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipid has a head which contain phosphate group and tail which a fatty acid chains.

Structure of triglycerides/fats consist of glyceril group attached to long chain of fatty acid. This act as a monomer unit.

Example of nucleic acid -- DNA and RNA

Monomer of nucleic acid -- Nucleotide

DNA or RNA are composed of many nucleotides joined together by phosphodiester bond. These nucleotide compose of a pentose sugar, phosphate group and a nitrogenous base.