Question
Question: List the major biomolecules which make up the cell....
List the major biomolecules which make up the cell.
Solution
There are four main types of biological macromolecules and each of which is an essential cell component and performs a broad variety of functions.
Complete Answer:
Biomolecules are also known as biological molecules. It is any of the various compounds formed by cells and living organisms. Biomolecules have a broad variety of sizes and configurations and serve a wide range of functions. All biomolecules hold in common a basic relationship between function and structure, which is affected by factors like the environment in which the biomolecule arises.
The four primary types of biomolecules are lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Lipids are essential biomolecules in living organisms. They perform a number of functions like serving as a reservoir of stored energy and chemical messengers. They often form membranes that distinguish cells from their surroundings and compartmentalize the internal cells, giving rise to organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, in higher organisms.
Carbohydrates are composed primarily of molecules containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, are important energy sources and basic elements of all life, and are among the most common biomolecules on Earth.
Proteins themselves are the core structural components of the cells. They also serve as transporters, nutrients and other molecules in and out of cells, and as enzymes and catalysts for the vast majority of chemical reactions that exist in living organisms. Proteins are both antibodies and hormones that control gene function.
In biomolecules, nucleic acids, namely DNA and RNA, have the special purpose of storing the genetic code of the organism - a series of nucleotides that specifies the amino acid sequence of proteins that are of essential significance to life on Earth. There are 20 distinct amino acids that can appear within a protein; the order in which they appear plays a critical role in deciding protein structure and function.
Note: The large molecules essential for life, which are composed of smaller organic molecules are named as biological macromolecules. In addition to their particular functions, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins may serve as a source of energy, whereas nucleic acids are the most important macromolecules for the continuation of life.