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Biological importance of macromolecules
What are the roles of macromolecules in nature
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What is the role of Macromolecules? Macromolecules have a major role in everyday life, we might not notice this because we don't exactly know what we use them for and why they are so important to us, mainly because we can see them therefore we are not aware that they exist. The term macromolecules is sometimes used to refer to aggregates of two or more macromolecules held together by intermolecular forces rather then by chemical bonds. Another common macromolecule property that does not characterize smaller molecules is the need for assistance in dissolving into solution. Many require salts or particular ions to dissolve in water. Cells can combine small molecules into large macromolecules, forming a higher level in the biological hierarchy. Macromolecules are polymers, chains of identical or similar subunit molecules called monomers. Although there is a limited number of monomers common to all organisms, each organism is unique because of the specific arrangement of there monomers into polymers with distinctive structures and properties. Monomers of all four classes of macromolecules form larger molecules by a number of different methods for example, dehydration and synthesis, a chemical reaction in which one monomers donates a hydrolysis. In this way large molecules in food are digested into monomers small enough to enter our cells. Macromolecules are made from four major classes of organic compounds in cells, and all four of these organic compounds have roles of there own that combine together and produce the major role of macromolecules. The four major classes are Carbohydrates. Lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Lipids, make up most structurally heterogeneous class of macromolecu... ... middle of paper ... ..., life as we know it would not be possible. The structure of these molecules is intimately related to their function. A continuing theme throughout much of the biological world is this relationship between form and function. When these small organic molecules are joined together, "giant" molecules are produced, This as we know it is a macromolecule. Macromolecules have a number of similarities and differences for example nucleic acids and proteins are large molecules with complicated three-dimensional structures. These structures are formed from simpler elements that are suitably arranged. Although structural details vary from macromolecule to macromolecule, a few general patterns describe the overall of most macromolecules. This means that even though Macromolecules are made, shaped and function differently they still play the same vital roles. Total words: 1533
The shape of the protein chains that produce the building blocks and other structures used in life is mostly determined by weak chemical bonds that are easily broken and remade. These chains can shorten, lengthen, and change shape in response to the input or withdrawal of energy. The changes in the chains alter the shape of the protein and can also alter its function or cause it to become either active or inactive. The ATP molecule can bond to one part of a... ... middle of paper ... ...
Macronutrients and micronutrients are both very important for the human body. Macronutrients are the nutrients that the body needs in larger amounts, while micronutrients are not required in large amounts but a steady supply is necessary for proper functioning in the body system. Macronutrients give energy to our bodies that we need to grow properly and metabolize our food as well as function in other ways. Macronutrients consist of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Micronutrients are the different types of vitamins and minerals needed by the
By definition, a cell is life's basic unit. In practice, the cells share several mechanisms across different animals, plants, and microorganisms. Two fundamental differences exist between the architecture of cells for different classes of organisms (Jan, 2014). Lipids build and maintain both the plasma (the external bilayer) and the nuclear membrane within a cell. In addition, the thick filament of proteins (actin filaments and microtubes) confer rigidity to the cytoskeleton of the cell. Factors, such as physical forces acting on a cell as and the cell’s mechanical environment control gene regulation (the rate of production of proteins). In animals, the polymer filament gel (network) regulate the motility of cells. In fact, forces acting on the polymer gel tend to deform the cell membrane.
what help create all the living things we see everyday. Lipids are found in all membranes, mainly
Cells are composed primarily of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen, the elements that make up the majority of organic compounds. The most important organic compounds in a cell are proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides (carbohydrates). The "solid" structures of the cell are co...
Macronutrients are nutrients that are required in large amounts that provide the energy needed to maintain the human body functions and carry out day-to-day activities. There are three types of macronutrients
“ what if you were able to design them [molecular machines] and get them to do, locally, the kinds of thing you see them doing in nature, but yet have those parts [molecular machines] fit together in a new way to make a…pattern...
A specialized cellular molecule copies a given sequence of DNA whose end product will contribute to its function. DNA is a long molecule that usually can be found in a condensed state. Specialized types of proteins called histones wrap the DNA, forming nucleosomes, and thus occupying a smaller volume in the nucleus. There are 2 types of nucleosomes, their importance being in that they tell what will be expressed or not. Euchromat...
Carbohydrates are the most abundant biomolecule on Earth. “Carbohydrates are used as accessible energy to fuel cellular reactions and for structural support inside cell
Proteins are considered to be the most versatile macromolecules in a living system. This is because they serve crucial functions in all biological processes. Proteins are linear polymers, and they are made up of monomer units that are called amino acids. The sequence of the amino acids linked together is referred to as the primary structure. A protein will spontaneously fold up into a 3D shape caused by the hydrogen bonding of amino acids near each other. This 3D structure is determined by the sequence of the amino acids. The 3D structure is referred to as the secondary structure. There is also a tertiary structure, which is formed by the long-range interactions of the amino acids. Protein function is directly dependent on this 3D structure.
"Within a single subunit [polypeptide chain], contiguous portions of the polypeptide chain frequently fold into compact, local semi-independent units called domains." - Richardson, 1981
Cells are the essential component of life, comprised of billions of molecules. Molecules such as DNA, lipids, proteins, RNA, glycans, and small molecules that have defined molecular properties and biological activities. Every cell has the ability to respond to its environment and to communicate with other cells to create organs, tissues, and whole organisms. Cell and Molecular Biology is a field that bridges the fields of chemistry, structure and biology as it pursues to comprehend life and cellular developments at the molecular level. It’s important to determine the mechanisms that allow cells to have distinguished properties and synchronize the activities that form the vital structures which define a living cell. This will, one day, be crucial
... of a protein-enzyme system in order to regulate that metabolic pathway. The only way a drug can mimic a human protein receptor and change its conformation is through the concept of an isomer. The drug will have the same atom kind and number, leading to an identical chemical formula. However, the function will vary, making the drug effective in the metabolic pathway. These examples are enough to prove that the understanding of the concept of isomerism is essential to life. Without understanding isomerism, it is nearly impossible to explain the millions of variations in organic molecules, which are the major components of life. Even though there is currently extensive information of the classification of isomers, research is still underway. Just like any other concept of chemistry, new discoveries are yet to be made that are yet not understood or remain in the dark.
Because cells are the ‘basic unit of life’, the study of cells, cytology, can be considered one of the most important areas of biological research. Almost every day on the evening news, we are told about new discoveries in cell biology, such as cancer research, cloning, and embryology. (https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073031216/student_view0/exercise3/the_importance_of_cell_biology.html)
Biochemists are scientists who study the chemistry relating to, biological organisms. It forms a bridge between biology and chemistry by studying how complex chemical reactions and chemical structures give rise to life and life's processes. Their work includes studying the complex chemical combinations and reactions involved in metabolism, reproduction, growth, and heredity. Biochemistry is sometimes viewed as a hybrid branch of organic chemistry which specializes in the chemical processes and chemical transformations that take place inside of living organisms, yet the reality of the situation is that the investigation of natural chemistry ought to for the most part be viewed as none, of these completely “biology” nor completely "chemistry" in nature. Organic chemistry fuses everything in size between an atom and a cell and all the connections between them. The point of organic chemists is to portray in sub-atomic terms the structures, instruments and synthetic courses of action imparted by all creatures, giving sorting out standards that underlie life in all its diverse forms. All life forms alive today are generally believed to have descended from a single proto-biotic precursor, which could clarify why all known living things characteristically have comparative biochemistries (InnerBody. N.p., n.d.).