Summary - Biomolecules

Summary

Cells are composed of water, inorganic compounds and organic molecules. The biomolecules of the cells include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, enzymes and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates include simple sugars (monosaccharides) and polysaccharides. Polysaccharide serve as storage forms of sugar and structural components of cell.

Lipids are the principle components of cell membrane, and they serve as energy storage and signalling molecules.

Proteins are polymers of 20 different amino acids, each of which has a distinct side chain with specific chemical properties. Each protein has a unique aminoacid sequence which determines its 3D structure.

 Nucleic acids are the principle information molecules of the cell. Both DNA and RNA are polymers of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Hydrogen bonding between complementary base pairs allows nucleic acids to direct their self replication.