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CSIR NET EXAM » CSIR UGC-NET Exam Study Materials » Life Sciences » Composition of biomolecules
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Composition of biomolecules

What are biomolecules? What is the composition of biomolecules? What are the types of biomolecules? Let's find out all you need to know about these chemical compounds.

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Biomolecules are molecules that are produced by other living organisms. They are also called biological molecules. 

Biomolecules are also chemical compounds. They contain amino and nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, proteins, and polysaccharides. 

Despite all these things that are in biomolecules they can be classified into four elements. The four elements of biomolecules are oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen. These make up 95% of the body mass. These elements are not types of biomolecules.

Biomolecules are very essential for the functioning of the human body. Without them, there will be no life. They are usually referred to as the building blocks of life.

Composition of biomolecules

The major components of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins. All of these are macromolecules and they perform very important functions. Let’s look at the biomolecules examples.

Nucleic acids

These macromolecules are components of life forms. Nucleic acids are made up of many nucleotides. Nucleic acids are composed of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. They can be found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of our cells.

Nucleic acids are divided into two main classes: they are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). 

  • DNA: it stands for Deoxyribonucleic Acid. It is a double-stranded structure that is responsible for all genetic information and the development of an organism. The structure of DNA looks like a twisted ladder. The two side rails are what make it double-stranded. The rungs are made up of nucleotides. 
  • RNA: it stands for Ribonucleic Acid. It is a single-strand structure. Its function is to transfer only genetic codes. This transfer is important for protein creation in the body. It is called a single strand because it is like a ladder with only one side rail and rungs. 

Aside from these classes, nucleic acids are made up of four acids. The DNA and RNA structures have rungs made up of these acids. The acids must be the opposite of each other for them to complement each other.  They are:

    • Adenine: the function of this is to normalize the rhythm of the heartbeat. It works by blocking off electrical signals in the heart that may cause an irregular heart rhythm. 
  • Cytosine: the function of cytosine is to control all heredity components in the cells of living organisms. It is usually paired with guanine
  • Guanine: the function of guanosine is to help in the splicing reaction of an RNA. 
  • Thymine: this is also known as uridine. It is not found in RNA but in DNA. Its function is to synchronize cells. That means it helps them work at the same rate.

Carbohydrates

  • Carbohydrates are more than just a class of food. These components of biomolecules are very important to the body. 
  • Carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The amount of hydrogen is more than oxygen.
  • When you take in carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose. This glucose is further broken down to become the energy that your body needs. 

Functions of carbohydrates 

  • Carbohydrate spare proteins and fats for energy and other uses
  • They provide and store energy for the body
  • They regulate the glucose in the blood
  • They process biochemicals for the body.

Lipids

These are a component of biomolecules that are insoluble in water. By insoluble, it means that they can not dissolve.

Lipids are organic compounds. They include hormones, waxes, fats, oil, and some parts of the cell membranes. They all serve as molecules that store energy for the body. They also send chemical messages to the body. An example is hormones. 

Types of lipids

The lipids mentioned above, hormones, waxes, fats and oil, and so on, are grouped into three:

  • Phospholipids: these are the outermost layer of the cells and they help to protect and maintain the cells from possible harm and damage. 
  • Sterols: sterols are hormones. They are a firm of steroids. These hormones help to send chemical messages to the brain and the body.
  • Triglycerides: Triglycerides are fats and oils that you find in your food. They can be saturated or unsaturated. This means they can be solid or liquid, depending on the room temperature.

Functions of lipids in the body

  • Lipids protect the nerve cells and increase their functioning and impulses
  • They absorb vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K.
  • They produce hormones needed in the body so that they can send messages.  

Proteins

Proteins are very important biomolecules. They are all made up of strands of amino acids, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen. 

Without proteins, the busy will not be able to carry out its many functions. Although proteins are a component of biomolecules they also help other components like nucleic acids (the DNA and the RNA). 

Structure of proteins

There are three basic structures of proteins. They are furthermore divided but we will look at the major structures:

  • Fibrous proteins: these proteins are what make up the bones, tendons, connective tissues, and muscle fibers. They are also scleroproteins.
  • Globular proteins: these proteins are in charge of catalyzing and regulating some chemicals and hormones in the body. Examples of globular proteins are antibodies and enzymes. 
  • Membrane proteins: as the name implies, they are found in the membrane of the cells. Their job is to help cellular functions like transporting substances within the cells.

    Conclusion

    Biomolecules are biological molecules that are needed for the body to function. They are divided into four groups: lipids carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids. You can also call them biomolecule examples. Each of these components depends on each other and is further down into many groups.

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