What are Biomolecules?

What are Biomolecules? Thumbnail

Biomolecules also called biological molecules are any molecule that is generated inside of living organisms. All these molecules are usually organic molecules and occur naturally in all organisms.
Without these biomolecules, living beings cannot survive.
These naturally occurring biomolecules are divided into four groups that you should know about!

Protein Biomolecules

You must be wondering what is protein if it’s called a biomolecule?
Well, proteins are biomolecules that are composed of amino acids that are bonded with peptide bonds. Amino acids are molecules that are made up of a basic amino group (NH2), a hydrogen atom, an organic group represented by (R), and an acidic carboxylic group (COOH).
Amino acids are further grouped into two different classifications that are essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids. Non-essential ones are the amino acids that are produced inside the body and there is no need for them to be taken from external sources.
Essential amino acids, on the other hand, are not synthesized inside the body, thus living organisms are required to take them through external means like food.
There are about more than a hundred amino acids and twenty of them make up protein. Hence proteins are essential to the body, as they serve many functions inside the body.

Nucleic Acid Biomolecules

Nucleic acid biomolecules are the most important ones. They are composed of monomeric units of nucleotides. The nucleotides are made up of a nitrogenous base, sugar (5 carbon), and phosphoric acid.
The nucleic acid is either in the form of DNA or RNA molecules that contain all the genetic information used for all cellular functionality and heredity.
First, a nucleoside is formed when a nucleobase (i.e. adenosine, cytidine, uridine, and thymidine) gets attached to either ribose or deoxyribose. In order to make a nucleotide, this nucleoside is then phosphorylated and forms either RNA or DNA.
Additionally, apart from being the structural unit of nucleic acids, these nucleotides also serve as cofactors to many enzymatic reactions (like FAD and NADP) and as a chemical energy source (i.e. ATP, Adenosine Triphosphate)
The DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid is double-stranded that is twisted together to form a helix. This nucleic acid contains all the genetic information of a living organism. Each strand of this nucleic acid is made up of pentose sugar and alternating phosphates. DNA is vital for many parts of the body. From cell growth to all functions of the body, DNA is responsible for all of it.
RNA, the ribonucleic acid is a single-stranded structure that is composed of repeating nucleotides. It is a long linear structure that differs from DNA. The primary function of RNA is to convert the information of DNA into protein.

Biomolecules of Carbohydrates

You’ll find an abundance of carbohydrate biomolecules as they are the major class of biomolecules. Most carbohydrates have the same formula of Cn (H2O) n, as they are hydrocarbons. They are simple organic compounds that are ketones or aldehydes that have hydroxyl groups attached to the carbon atom.
Counting the number of monomeric units, the carbohydrates are classified into different saccharides as it’s the structural unit of carbohydrates.

⦁ Monosaccharides

Carbohydrates that contain only one sugar and are the most fundamental group of carbohydrates are called monosaccharides. They include glucose, galactose, and fructose.

⦁ Disaccharides

The carbohydrates that are composed of two monosaccharides are called disaccharides. Examples of disaccharides include maltose, lactose, and sucrose.

⦁ Oligosaccharides

The carbohydrates that are comprised of two to ten monosaccharides are called oligosaccharides. Examples include maltotriose, maltotetraose, and raffinose.

⦁ Polysaccharides

The carbohydrates that have large amounts of monosaccharides are called polysaccharides. This includes glycogen, cellulose, and starch. The polysaccharides that are made up of the dame monosaccharide in their structure are known as homopolysaccharides or homoglycan. Whereas, the polysaccharides that are made up of more than one monosaccharide are called heteroglycan or heteropolysaccharides.
This way, all carbohydrate biomolecules differ in their structure and perform completely different functions in the body.

Lipid Biomolecules

These biomolecules are organic compounds. Lipids are effortlessly soluble in non-polar solvents like ether but are not soluble in polar solvents like water. The major biological functions of lipid biomolecules include the storage of energy, cell signaling, and being the structural component of the cell membrane. Common lipids include phospholipids, triglycerides, and steroids.
Lipid has diverse functionality. Some are used for energy storage and with that, some lipids form insulation and protection around tissues. Some other lipids help in controlling the cell activity by acting as chemical message carriers and taking messages from one part of the body to another. Other lips act as cellular barriers and allow selective passage to molecules going in and out of cells.
The three types of lipid groups are;

⦁ Triglycerides

Fats and oils are called triglycerides and have the same structure of glycerol molecule bonded with three fatty acids. Fats are usually found in animal tissues that provide multiple functions like insulation, energy storage, and protection to sensitive organs.
Oils are extracted from plants in liquid form. The plants store more energy n lipids as compared to carbohydrates.

⦁ Phospholipids

Phospholipids have a glycerol backbone that is bonded to the fatty acids, but here there are 2 fatty acid chains. Phospholipids have a hydrophobic tail, also known as a carbon chain with a hydrophilic head. The function of phospholipids is to compose the lipid bilayer in cell membranes.

⦁ Steroids

Steroids are lipids that are comprised of four connected carbon chains. These steroids usually have functional groups of hydroxyl or carboxyl attached to them. Many steroids perform essential cellular functions. The steroid hormones like testosterone and estrogen control the reproductive system and its development. Many steroids are also developed in laboratories to fight different diseases and work as medicine.

Some Other Biomolecules

There are more biomolecules present in the body that are yet to be classified. These include natural products and metabolites. Metabolites are substances produced as a result of metabolism or other metabolic activity. Examples of metabolites are alcohol, alkaloids, nucleotides, amino acids, and many others. Natural products include bodily fluids, bio-based material, and biologically-derived substances.