Adapted by: K.

Donley

Identification of Macromolecules Lab

Purpose: To learn the structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and
nucleic acids.
Directions: Get in groups of 3-4 and complete the following worksheet. You will need to
get toothpicks, 4 colors of playdoh, a computer, and a textbook.

Carbon
1. Go to the on-line activities in your on-line textbook. (If the Internet is down, Mrs.
D has CD-Roms.) Do the activities for chapter 4 (4A-4C). What are the 3 types
of isomers and define their differences. Make a table of the functional groups
listing their formula and properties. The three types of isomers are structural
isomers, geometric isomers, and enantiomers.
Structural

Geometric

Enantiomers

Covalent arrangement is different

Location is double bonds is different

Same covalent partners but differ

Mirror images of each other.
in spatial arrangement. The double
bonds allow the atom to rotate
changing the compound.

2. Use the computer on-line activities and your textbook for chapter 5 to complete
the rest of the lab.

Carbohydrates

Stamp:

1. What is a carbohydrate? List some examples.

A carbohydrate is a sugar.
Ex: Monosaccharaides, disaccharides, polymer
2. What is the structure of glucose? Create a glucose molecule with playdoh and
toothpicks. C, H, and O should be represented by a different color and toothpicks
should represent the bonds. Draw the structure you have created below.

3. Draw a disaccharide and label the bond between the 2 sugar molecules.

4. What is the common name of the disaccharide you created above? Give 2 other
examples of disaccharides and the names of the 2 monosaccharides that compose
them.
Sucrose:
2 other examples: lactosegalactose and glucose
Maltose--- glucose and glucose
5. What is the bond called that links 2 monosaccharides together? What is the
difference between an alpha and beta bond?
The bond that holds two monosaccharaides together is a disaccharide bond.
An Alpha bond is a spiral structure made of proteins from hydrogen bonding.
A Beta bond is the secondary structure made of proteins showing 2 parts of polypeptide
chains.
Alpha=down bond
Beta=up bond
6. Why cant cats and dogs digest cellulose?
Dogs and cats cant digest cellulose because they get nutrients beyond the cell wall. They
cant digest the up bond- cellulose bond
7. What are some common polysaccharides and what are their functions?
Storage polysaccharides are starch and glycogen. Two forms of starch are amylose and
amylopectin. Glycogen is a polysaccharide for animals. Glycogen is more branches of
glucose.
A structural polysaccharide is called cellulose, which is in the wall of cellular plants.
They regulate energy--- level at balance.
8. Why are carbohydrates important in the diet? What are the functions of
carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are sugars, fibers and starches. Carbohydrates provide energy for the cells,
tissues and other functioning body parts.

Lipids

Stamp:

1. What is a lipid? List some examples.

A lipid is a compound that doesnt mix with water.
EX: fats, steroids, phospholipids.
2. What 2 molecules compose a simple lipid? Create them with playdoh and
toothpicks and draw them below.

3. What are the functions of lipids? Why are they important in the diet?
Lipids are fatty acids used for energy because the tail of the lipid has a lot of potential
energy. Saturated fats and unsaturated fats have a different impact on a diet. Saturated fats
can lead to heart disease and unsaturated fats are safer.
4. What is the difference between a saturated v. an unsaturated lipid? Which is
healthier?
Saturated tend to be solid at room temperature and unsaturated tends to be liquid at room
temperature. Unsaturated fats are healthier.
5. What are HDLs and LDLs? Which is healthier? List a disease that is common
for people with high cholesterol
HDL is High-density lipoprotein and LDL is low-density lipoprotein. They carry
cholesterol to and from cells. HDL is healthier.
People with high cholesterol may be at risk of getting atherosclerosis.

Proteins

Stamp:

1. What is a protein? Give some examples.

A compound made of large molecules including long chains of amino acids. They are
used for storing and transporting substances to organisms.

EX: Structural, storage, transport, hormonal, receptor, contractile, and defensive

PROTEINS
2. Why are proteins important in the diet? What are the functions of proteins?
Proteins repair and build tissues in the body. They also make enzymes and hormones.
Essentially, proteins are the building blocks for all major body parts.
3. Create an amino acid with playdoh and toothpicks. Draw it below.

4. How many amino acids are there? How many are essential to the diet?
500 but only 20 are necessary for the diet.
5. What are the 3 categories of amino acids? Give 2 examples of each type.
Nonpolar- glycine, Alanine
Polar- serine, threonine
Electrically charged- aspartic acid, glutamic acid
6. Describe how proteins fold (include primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
structures). Why is the shape of a protein important?
Primary- sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide
Secondary- bending and hydrogen bonding of a polypeptide backbone to form repeating
patterns

Tertiary- overall conformation of a polypeptide, as reinforced by interactions between the

side chains of amino acids
Quaternary- the association between 2 or more polypeptides that make up a protein
7. What bonds help stabilize protein shape?
Peptide bonds help stabilize the protein shape
8. Go to the Internet and find the structure of an example protein. Print one per
group and label any distinct folding patterns that you see.

Nucleic Acids

Stamp:

1. What is a nucleic acid? Give 2 examples.

A polymer made of many monomers and is the structure of proteins and all cellular
activities.

EX: DNA, RNA

2. What 3 molecules compose a nucleotide?
Phosphate, sugar and nitrogenous base

3. List the purines and pyrimidines. What bonds with what? Draw their structures
below.
Pyrimidine- 6 membered ring of carbon/nitrogen
Purines- 6 membered ring to a 5 membered ring

Purines+ Pyrimidine= hydrogen bonds, structure depending on nitrogenous base

4. Draw a picture of DNA with 2 bases on each strand, one base pair should be A
and T, the other C and G. Who discovered the structure of DNA?
Discovery of Structure: Francis Crick and James Watson

5. What is the function of DNA? What is the function of RNA (mRNA, tRNA,
rRNA, and snRNA)?
DNA- allows organisms to reproduce their traits from generation to generation.
RNA- controls synthesis in a cell, which allows the reproduction of DNA
mRNA- interact with protein-synthesis organelles and directs the production of
polypeptides--- genetic code from nucleus to cytoplasm
tRNA- translator of nucleic acids and proteins by recognizing in the mRNA
snRNA- part of the SNRNP process

6. List the differences between RNA and DNA.

DNA store the genetic code for proteins and RNA carries that information to make the
protein structure.
DNA has deoxyribose and RNA has ribose
DNA has T and RNA has U
DNA has 2 polynucleotides and RNA has single polynucleotide
7. Which came first, RNA or DNA? Why do you think this? Do all organisms have
DNA? Why or why not?
RNA came first because it was the first molecule of heredity. Then DNA came to support
the genetic code for all organisms.
8. What is the difference between mitochondrial DNA and nuclear DNA? Do some
research on the Internet (remember to cite your sources!).
Nuclear DNA- 46 chromosomes changes through recombination
Mitochondrial- 1 chromosome (circular genome).. Code for specific protein. Doesnt
change because there is no nuclear recombination.

9. What is a plasmid? What organism uses plasmids to its advantage and why is it
an advantage? Why might this advantage be potentially harmful to other
organisms?
Small, circular, and a double stranded DNA molecule with accessory genes separate from
the bacterial chromosome. Pass traits on for as advantage for passing on traits such as
resistance traits.
10. Why do you suppose it is important to take all of the antibiotics in a prescription?
What can happen if you dont take all of the pills correctly? Give an example.
If antibiotics arent taken fully, the strong bacteria will stay in the system. If that happens,
the virus is still inside the system and will build up again making the organisms sick
again.