biological molecules and compounds are naturally occurring molecules and compounds

macromolecules, big (macro-) molecules made through the joining of smaller subunits

polymers - are long chains made up of repeating molecular subunits or monomers
monomers - are building blocks of polymers

4 Main Types of Biological Monomers

• monosaccharides - forms larger molecules called carbohydrates
• nucleotides - forms larger molecules called nucleic acids
• amino acids - forms larger molecules called proteins or peptides
• glycerol and fatty acids - forms larger molecules called lipids

Sections

• Biological Molecules & Compounds
• Biological Molecules & Compounds
• Biological Molecules & Compounds

How Polymers are Built From Monomers - Dehydration Synthesis

often via dehydration synthesis reactions - which one monomer forms a covalent bond to another monomer, releasing a water molecule in the process

general form: monomer + monomer → polymer + H₂O
monosaccharide form: monosaccharide + monosaccharides → disaccharide + H₂O

Example Dehydration Synthesis Reaction

How Polymers are Broken Down to Monomers - Hydrolysis

often via hydrolysis reactions - which a bond is broken, or lysed, by addition of a water molecule

general form: polymer + H20 → monomer + monomer
monosaccharide form: disaccharide + H₂O → monosaccharide + monosaccharides

Example Hydrolysis Reaction

How to Speed Up Reactions - Enzymes

enzymes catalyze, or speed up, both the dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis reactions

enzymes involved in breaking bonds are often given names that end with -ase

example enzymes:

• maltase enzyme breaks down maltose
• lipases break down lipids
• peptidases break down proteins