Biological Macromolecules

This Lab Report is an analysis of the results of a two-part experiment. In the first part, we used a gel filtration column to separate the components of a mixture composed of protein and non-protein molecules. By doing so we hoped to obtain fractions that contained single components of the mixture, while also gaining insight into the relative molecular weight of each component compared to each other. We would then plot these fractions onto nitrocellulose paper in order to determine which fractions had protein. In the second part, we would use the fractions which we had determined had protein to conduct an SDS-PAGE. By doing so we hoped to determine an estimate on the molecular weight of the proteins present in each fraction by comparing it to a tracker dye composed of a variety of molecules of differing molecular weight.

Biomolecules are present in every living organism. Larger biomolecules (macromolecules) consists of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. In layman’s terms, proteins are long chains of amino acids that have many functions such as, providing structural support and regulating many body processes. Lipids are the scientific term used for fats. There are many different types of fats, but they all share one common characteristic: They are not soluble in water. Lipids provide protection and insulation to organs and also act as an energy source. Carbohydrates are made up of carbon, hydrogen,

Proteins are the basis of the protoplasm (fluid living content of the cell that contains the cytoplasm and cell nucleus) and are found in all living organisms. Proteins make up the bulk of animals body’s non-skeletal structure. As enzymes, they catalyze biochemical reactions; as antibodies, they prevent the effects of invading organisms; and as hormones, they control metabolic processes (C. Bissonnette, 2011). The Biuret test was used to detect the presence of peptide bonds within proteins, and they were found present in test tube #9 (control for peptide bonds).

A cell, the building block of all living organisms, is composed of four fundamental biomolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, sugars and lipids. Proteins provide a vast amount of functions cells such as they serve as enzymes, provide structural support to cells, and act as antibodies. Reagents are used to spark a chemical reaction. The reagent used to detect protein traces in a substance is Biuret’s. Biuret’s will turn purple if proteins are present and blue if they are none. Biuret’s copper particles, have a charge of +2, are diminished to a charge of +1 when peptide bonds, which are in proteins, are present, creating the color change. Polysaccharides, which are carbohydrates, are most notably known to provide energy to the body, but they also help in breaking down fatty acids. Iodine is the reagent used to determine whether a substance has starch in it. The iodine/starch complex has energy levels that are only for retaining unmistakable light, giving the complex its extraordinarily dark black-blue shade. If there is no starch found, iodine will remain its natural yellowish-brownish color, but if starch is present, iodine will turn blue-black. Monosaccharides, which are sugars, like polysaccharides, provide the body with energy. To detect monosaccharides, the reagent, Benedict’s, is used. Benedict’s reagent is added to a test tube, then it is placed in

Dehydration-synthesis is a reaction that occurs to form different types of macromolecules. It is a reaction that leaves a macromolecule structure along the lines of developing its own specific function in a living organism. The 4 most common ones are carbohydrates which includes monosaccharides and polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids (Mack 2012). Scientists identify different types of macromolecules to achieve a better understanding on how they function in our bodies. This can be achieved by studying their chemical properties and structure.

A protein has multiple existing structures, these are the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary structures which occur progressively. A protein is essentially a sequence of amino acids which are bonded adjacently, and interact with one another in various ways depending on the R group that the amino acid contains. There are 20 different amino acids which are able to be arranged in any given order, thus giving rise to a potential 2.433x1018 (4.s.f) different combinations, and therefore interactions between the various amino acids.

There are thousands of chemical reactions that occur in a cell at every moment. These chemical reactions do not occur randomly, they are highly under the control of biological catalysts called enzymes. Most of these enzymes are proteins. These proteins have certain primary structures directed by

Macromolecules BCM 261 10/13/2014 Caroline Venter 13019865 Introduction Background Many of the molecules that are crucial in living organisms and systems are very large and are usually made up of macromolecules. Macromolecules are organic molecules with a large molecular mass and consist of repeating units called monomers. These repeating monomers are formed via condensation or dehydration reactions (loss of water or other small molecules in order to join two molecules) and usually each have a small molecular mass which contributes to the overall large molecular mass of macromolecules (Jenkins, Kratochvíl, Stepto, & Suter, 2009).

There are four basic macromolecules that contribe to healthy eating, Carbohydrates, proteins, fats and lipids. Each one of these needs to maintant a balance in your diet despit the diets that promote elimating them all together from your meals.

8) Results. What tools did they use to show the localization of the different proteins? What did they find on the localization and function of the different proteins?

Enantiomers are two same chemical moieties which have a different spatial arrangement. They are described as mirror images of each other, that is they are non-superimposable. They have similar physical properties but differs in some chemical properties. The two different arrangements are classifieds as L- and D-, depending upon the functional group of reference.

Biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in living organisms. It oversees every living process and organism. According to Arizona State University (2003), “by controlling the information flow through biochemical signaling and the flow of chemical energy through metabolism; biochemical processes give rise to the marvel of life. A good portion of biochemistry deals with the functions and structures of cellular components like proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and other biological molecules. The processes, rather than individual molecules, are the main focus” (Basic Chemistry for Understanding Biology). Accordingly, the main focus of biochemistry is detecting how biological molecules organize those processes that occur in living cells. The processes relate to the understanding and study of whole organisms and their subsequent chemistry (Arizona State University, 2003).

Chemistry is undoubtedly in one’s everyday life. Every day, our bodies undergo chemical reactions and our environment that we live in goes through chemical changes. Completing this course, as challenging as it was, actually taught me so much about important chemical concepts that I didn’t even know or remember learning from previous courses. Our bodies cannot function without chemistry, so it is just as important to learn about the biological chemical process within because we need to know what is going on in our bodies, as well as in our surroundings.

There are macromolecules in all forms of life, whether it is in the food we eat or the beverages we drink. These macromolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. These four different macromolecules are monomers and they link together in different sized chains, which form polymers. Each of the four macromolecules is made up of different types of elements. The macromolecule, Carbohydrates, contains carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, and is classified into one of the three categories: monosaccharaides, disaccharides and polysaccharides. Proteins are made of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen and sometimes sulphur. Proteins are covalently bonded; these bonds are called peptide bonds. Lipids are also made up of carbon, hydrogen

In most instances, protein molecules are usually embedded from hundreds to thousands of amino acids. A repertoire of twenty different amino acids, joined in any possible sequence allows the existence of an inconceivably large number of proteins that is infinite in nature.