Describe each of the four classes of macromolecules (large polymers) of living things, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,...

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Biology

Describe each of the four classes of macromolecules (largepolymers) of living things, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, andnucleic acids. Include the following items. monomer units (not forlipids) function and location of molecule in living things oneexample of each class of macromolecule (examples of proteins -amylase, collagen) describe the structure of each class.

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Carbohydrates can be represented by the formula CH2On where n is the number of carbon atoms in the molecule In other words the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 121 in carbohydrate molecules Carbohydrates are classified into three subtypes monosaccharides disaccharides and polysaccharides Monosaccharides mono one sacchar sweet are simple sugars the most common of which is glucose In monosaccharides the number of carbon atoms usually ranges from three to six Most monosaccharide names end with the suffix ose Depending on the number of carbon atoms in the sugar they may be known as trioses three carbon atoms pentoses five carbon atoms and hexoses six carbon atoms Monosaccharides may exist as a linear chain or as ringshaped molecules in aqueous solutions they are usually found in the ring form The chemical formula for glucose is C6H12O6 In most living species glucose is an important source of energy During cellular respiration energy is released from glucose and that energy is used to help make adenosine triphosphate ATP Plants synthesize glucose using carbon dioxide and water by the process of photosynthesis and the glucose in turn is used for the energy requirements of the plant The excess synthesized glucose is often stored as starch that is broken down by other organisms that feed on plants A long chain of monosaccharides linked by covalent bonds is known as a polysaccharide poly many The chain may be branched or unbranched and it may contain different types of monosaccharides Polysaccharides may be very large molecules Starch glycogen cellulose and chitin are examples of polysaccharides Starch is the stored form of sugars in plants and is made up of amylose and amylopectin both polymers of glucose Plants are able to synthesize glucose and the excess glucose is stored as starch in different plant parts including roots and seeds The starch that is consumed by animals is broken down into smaller molecules such as glucose The cells can then absorb the glucose Glycogen is the storage form of glucose in humans and other vertebrates and is made up of monomers of glucose Glycogen is the animal equivalent of starch and is a highly branched molecule usually stored in liver and muscle cells Whenever glucose levels decrease glycogen is broken down to release glucose Cellulose is one of the most abundant natural biopolymers The cell walls of plants are mostly made of cellulose which provides structural support to the cell Wood and paper are mostly cellulosic in nature Cellulose is made up of glucose monomers that are linked by bonds between particular See Answer

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