Structure of Macromolecules

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are all macromolecules, a protein that consists of thousands of covalently bonded atoms. Each macromolecule has their own specific function and how the look. Some use condensation reaction and dehydration reaction, as well as hydrolysis to dissemble or assemble bonds. Carbohydrates include monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides is the simplest carbohydrate, also known for sugar. Disaccharide consists of two monosaccharides and polysaccharides consist of thousands of monosaccharides. Important polysaccharides are plants that use cellulose for their tough walls and animals that store glycogen. Starch and gluecose are commonly used.
Lipids on the other hand, are diverse hydrophobic molecules which do not include polymers. the hydrophobic behavior of lipids is based on their molecular structure, consisting mostly of hydrocarbons. Lipids include fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Fats are constructed from glycerol and fatty acids. Fatty acids vary in length and how many bonds they have. The major function of fat is energy storage. Phosophilipds have two fatty acid tails and can be polar charged. The phosopholipids form a boundary between the cell and it's environment and are major components for cell membranes. Steroids are lipids with four fused rings on it's carbon skeleton. Cholesterol is a common component of steroids and found in animal cell membranes.
Proteins consist of one or more polypeptides (amino acids) and the physical and chemical properties of the side chain determines what that specific amino acid does. A protein's configuration determines how it works; the function of a protein depends on its ability to recognize and bind to other molecules. Proteins have four structures and can unfold due to denaturation. But once a protein denaturizes, it no longer functions.
Nucleic acids are informational polymers which store and transmit hereditary information. Two types of nucleic acids are DNA and RNA. DNA is the genetic material an organisms inherits from their parents.Each gene along the DNA molecule directs the synthesis of the messenger RNA. Messenger RNA then directs the genetic instructions for building proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. DNA molecules form a double helix, and the bases have to go together with the same pair. If this is not correct, then the DNA copying of genes will not be correct either.
Five things that I learned was that 1) fatty acids vary in length and how many bonds they have. The major function of fat is energy storage, 2) Phosophilipds are hydrophobic to water, but the phosphate group and its attachments can form a hydrophilic head that likes water, 3)Proteins have four structures and can unfold due to denaturation. But once a protein denaturizes, it no longer functions, 4)Messenger RNA then directs the genetic instructions for building proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and 5)Protein conformation can depend on physical and chemical conditions of the protein's environment, as well as pH, salt concentration, temperature, and other aspects of its environment.

Source: Campbell book
Website: http://biomodel.uah.es/en/model3/index.htm