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Know Macromolecules Monomer Polymer Units Quizlet
The knowledge of macromolecules and their related monomers and polymer units
Macromolecules are macromolecules formed by the polymerization of many monomers. To understand macromolecules, one must first know their monomers and polymer units.
Monomers are the basic small molecules that form polymers. For example, carbohydrate monomers are often monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose. These monosaccharide molecules have a delicate structure and have functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. They can be connected to each other by glycosidic bonds to polymerize into polysaccharides, which are polymers of carbohydrates. Starch and cellulose are both polysaccharides. The former is an energy storage substance for plants, and the latter is the main component of plant cell walls. Although both are composed of glucose monomers, their properties and functions are very different due to differences in connection methods and spatial structures.
The monomer of a protein is an amino acid. Amino acids have amino and carboxyl groups. In the general structure formula, the central carbon atom is connected to the amino, carboxyl, hydrogen atom and the characteristic side chain group. Different amino acids have different properties due to different side chain groups. Amino acids are connected by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains, which are folded by disc curvature to form proteins with specific spatial structures and functions. Proteins have a wide range of functions. Enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions, hemoglobin that transports parts of oxygen, etc. are all proteins. The diversity of their functions stems from the complexity of amino acid sequences and spatial structures.
Lipid monomers are more complex. Some lipids, such as triglycerides, are composed of glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, and fatty acids are compounds linked to long-chain hydrocarbon groups and carboxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups of glycerol dehydrate and condensate with the carboxyl groups of fatty acids to form ester bonds to form triglycerides. Lipids have diverse functions, such as energy storage and biofilms.
The monomer of a nucleic acid is a nucleotide. Nucleotides are composed of nitrogenous bases, pentacarose and phosphoric acid. The nucleotide of DNA contains deoxyribose, and the bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The nucleotide of RNA contains ribose, and the base is uracil (U) instead of thymine (T). Nucleotides are connected by phosphodiester bonds to form nucleic acid chains. DNA double-stranded helical structure stores genetic information, while RNA plays an important role in the transcription and translation of genetic information.
When studying macromolecules and their monomer and polymer units, it is necessary to clarify the structural characteristics of each monomer and understand its polymerization mechanism, so as to deeply understand the formation, structure and function of macromolecules. This is the key to understanding the biomolecular world.
Macromolecules are macromolecules formed by the polymerization of many monomers. To understand macromolecules, one must first know their monomers and polymer units.
Monomers are the basic small molecules that form polymers. For example, carbohydrate monomers are often monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose. These monosaccharide molecules have a delicate structure and have functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups. They can be connected to each other by glycosidic bonds to polymerize into polysaccharides, which are polymers of carbohydrates. Starch and cellulose are both polysaccharides. The former is an energy storage substance for plants, and the latter is the main component of plant cell walls. Although both are composed of glucose monomers, their properties and functions are very different due to differences in connection methods and spatial structures.
The monomer of a protein is an amino acid. Amino acids have amino and carboxyl groups. In the general structure formula, the central carbon atom is connected to the amino, carboxyl, hydrogen atom and the characteristic side chain group. Different amino acids have different properties due to different side chain groups. Amino acids are connected by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains, which are folded by disc curvature to form proteins with specific spatial structures and functions. Proteins have a wide range of functions. Enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions, hemoglobin that transports parts of oxygen, etc. are all proteins. The diversity of their functions stems from the complexity of amino acid sequences and spatial structures.
Lipid monomers are more complex. Some lipids, such as triglycerides, are composed of glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, and fatty acids are compounds linked to long-chain hydrocarbon groups and carboxyl groups. The hydroxyl groups of glycerol dehydrate and condensate with the carboxyl groups of fatty acids to form ester bonds to form triglycerides. Lipids have diverse functions, such as energy storage and biofilms.
The monomer of a nucleic acid is a nucleotide. Nucleotides are composed of nitrogenous bases, pentacarose and phosphoric acid. The nucleotide of DNA contains deoxyribose, and the bases are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). The nucleotide of RNA contains ribose, and the base is uracil (U) instead of thymine (T). Nucleotides are connected by phosphodiester bonds to form nucleic acid chains. DNA double-stranded helical structure stores genetic information, while RNA plays an important role in the transcription and translation of genetic information.
When studying macromolecules and their monomer and polymer units, it is necessary to clarify the structural characteristics of each monomer and understand its polymerization mechanism, so as to deeply understand the formation, structure and function of macromolecules. This is the key to understanding the biomolecular world.
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