LIFE 102 Lecture Notes - Polysaccharide, Organic Compound, Macromolecule
Document Summary
Atp: an important source of energy for cellular processes. One phosphate molecule, adenosine triphosphate (atp), is the primary energy- transferring molecule in the cell. Atp consists of an organic molecule called adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups. Atoms connect to build small organic molecules, and the small organic molecules connect further to form macromolecules. Concept 5. 1: macromolecules are polymers, build from monomers. A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks. Three of the four classes of life"s organic molecules are polymers. Connecting monomers to form a macromolecule is often accomplished with a series of condensation reactions. In a condensation reaction (also called a dehydration reaction), the bonding of two monomers is accompanied by the loss of one water molecule. Condensation reactions often include enzymes, which are macromolecules that speed up the dehydration process. Polymers are disassembled to monomers by hydrolysis, a reaction that is essentially the reverse of the dehydration reaction.
