A. What are the monomers (or subunits) of the following four macromolecules? com

Question

A. What are the monomers (or subunits) of the following four macromolecules?

complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides)

lipids

proteins

nucleic acids

B. Consider the structure and function of each of these four biological macromolecules. How does the structure of each molecule affect its function? For example, in complex carbohydrates, why would long chains of glucose be more effective for energy storage than single glucose molecules? How do the four levels of protein structure affect the shape of enzymes and why is this important for enzyme function? Explain the "lock and key" model of enzyme function using the terms substrate, active site, and product. ( Please type your answer, its hard to understand writing)

Explanation / Answer

A.

Monomers are the basic units which combine to form larger biomolecules. For example several glucose molecules join together through Glycosidic bond to form Starch.

The monomers for the following polymers are as follows:

Polysaccharides: It would be monosaccharides sugars like Glucose.

Proteins: Monomers would be Amino acids joined together through a polypeptide bond.

Nucleic Acid: Monomer would be nucleotide which comprises of a 5 carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

Lipids: Monomers would be individual Fatty acids and Glycerol.

B.

Biological system are highly efficient a and ensures high output. The conversion of monomers into polymers is a strategy of Biological system to conserve energy and ensure smooth functioning of cells.

For example glucose is converted into starch for storage purposes. This conversion process ensure efficient storage of these energy molecules in cells. If a cell doesn't convert glucose into starch, and uses glucose molecules for storage then sue to very high number of glucose molecules the osmolarity of the cell will increase resulting in cell burst, thus conversion of glucose into starch ensure maintenance of osmotic pressure and also starch being a complex molecule requires leases space for storage.

Similarly when amino acids are converted to proteins they acquire different shapes which results in formation of active sites of the enzymes.

Lock and key Hypothesis:

Enzymes are Biological catalyst. They catalyse biological reactions. Enzyme catalysis is a complicated process and is highly efficient. This process of enzyme catalysis was explained by Fisher through a model called lock and key Hypothesis of enzyme catalysis.

According to this hypothesis enzyme has active sites where enzyme substrate attaches with enzyme. These active sites in Enzymes are specific to every substrate as lock has a specific key. Thus an enzyme gets activated when a specific substrate comes and attaches to its active site other it remains inactive.

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