# Biological Macromolecules **Biological macromolecules** are large and complex [[Atoms, Molecules, and Compounds]] that are built from smaller organic molecules and perform crucial functions in living organisms. There are four major classes of biological macromolecules: ![[Pasted image 20220731115221.png|300]] | Biomolecule | Functions | Examples | | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | [[Carbohydrates]] | aaa | Sugars, Starches, Fiber (Bread, Potatoes, Rice, Pasta) | | [[Lipids]] | Energy storage and | Fats, Oils, Steroids | | [[Proteins]] | Support, Transport, Defense, Metabolism, Motion, and Regulation | Eggs, Milk, Beans, Meat, Tofu, Nuts | | [[Nucleic Acids]] | Stores transmits genetic information | DNA, RNA, mRNA | - Lipids & Carbohydrates can be either homopolymers or repetitive heteropolymers - Proteins are not heteropolymers --- ## Synthesis of Biological Macromolecules [[Monomers]] are the *building blocks* of larger, more complex molecules. The concept of [[Monomers]] and [[Polymers]] are the foundation for much of organic chemistry. --- ##### Dehydration Synthesis **Dehydration synthesis** combines two monomers and produces water as a byproduct. Monomers are joined by the removal of $OH$ from one monomer and the removal of $H$ from the other at the site of the bond formation. ![[Pasted image 20220803052646.png|550]] --- ##### Hydrolysis **Hydrolysis** is a type of chemical reaction in which a molecule of water breaks one or more bonds in another molecule. Monomers are *released* from the larger polymer when a water molecule is introduced, adding $OH$ to one monomer and $H$ to the other. ![[Pasted image 20220803052750.png|550]] ## Macromolecular Crowding https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macromolecular_crowding - Excluded volume effects (solvent surrounding large molecules are often unusable by other nearby molecules) ![[Pasted image 20231216232526.png|400]] ![[Pasted image 20231230202453.png]] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/macromolecular-crowding