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3: Properties of Biological Molecules

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    165580

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    • 3.1: Biological Molecules - Carbon and Carbon Bonding
      There are four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), and each is an important component of the cell and performs a wide array of functions. Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s mass. Biological macromolecules are organic, meaning that they contain carbon (with some exceptions, like carbon dioxide).
    • 3.2: Biological Molecules - Carbohydrates
      There are four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), and each is an important component of the cell and performs a wide array of functions. Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s mass. Biological macromolecules are organic, meaning that they contain carbon (with some exceptions, like carbon dioxide).
    • 3.3: Biological Molecules - Lipids
      There are four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), and each is an important component of the cell and performs a wide array of functions. Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s mass. Biological macromolecules are organic, meaning that they contain carbon (with some exceptions, like carbon dioxide).
    • 3.4: Biological Molecules - Nucleic Acids
      There are four major classes of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids), and each is an important component of the cell and performs a wide array of functions. Combined, these molecules make up the majority of a cell’s mass. Biological macromolecules are organic, meaning that they contain carbon (with some exceptions, like carbon dioxide).
    • 3.5: Proteins - Structure
      This page covers the essential concepts of amino acids and proteins, emphasizing their structure and function. It explains that proteins, made of 20 types of amino acids, have four structural levels—primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary—determined by amino acid sequences. The page highlights the significance of protein shape for functionality, noting that denaturation can occur due to environmental factors.
    • 3.6: Proteins - Function
      This page highlights the essential roles and functions of proteins in living organisms, emphasizing that their specific structures dictate their functions. It covers protein composition, folding, domains, and various roles such as support, signaling, transport, movement, energy storage, and enzymatic activity. The page also underscores the versatility of proteins in biological processes and their significance in biotechnology applications.

    Thumbnail: Fatty acid molecules with cis and trans configurations. (CC BY 4.0 / modified from original; OpenStax).

    This page titled 3: Properties of Biological Molecules is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by OpenStax.