General Biology 1

SHS
Quarter 1 – Module 7:
Biological Molecules

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General Biology 1
Quarter 1 – SLM 11
Biological Molecules

What I Need to Know

This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master the nature of Biology. The scope of this module permits it to be used in many
different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary level
of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course.
But the order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook
you are now using.

The module is divided into two lessons, namely:

• Lesson 1 – Structure, Function and Role of Biological Molecules in specific

metabolic processes
• Lesson 2 – Components of Enzymes

At the end of this module, the following competencies are expected to be met:
• Categorize the biological molecules (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic
acids) according to their structure and function. (STEM_BIO11/12Ii-j-15)
• Explain the role of each biological molecule in specific metabolic processes.
(STEM_BIO11/12-Ii-j-16)

Hence, students should be able to:

1. present simple molecular models of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and

nucleic acids.
2. relate the structure to the roles that these molecules play in biological systems

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 What I Know

Pre-test

Direction: Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following statements best describes Nucleic Acids?

A. They include a diversity of structures, resulting in a wide range of
functions.
B. They store, transmit, and help express hereditary information.
C. They are diverse group of hydrophobic molecules.
D. They serve as fuel in building material.
2. What do you call the naturally occurring organic compounds that do not dissolve
in polar solvents like water?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Lipids
C. Nucleic Acids
D. Proteins
3. The covalent bond between two monosaccharides is called ____________.
A. Ester linkage
B. Glycosidic linkage
C. Peptide bond
D. Phosphodiester bond
4. Which of the following is NOT a Monosaccharide?
A. Fructose
B. Galactose
C. Maltose
D. Ribose
5. A disaccharide Sucrose is a combination of monosaccharides ______________.
A. glucose + fructose
B. glucose + glucose
C. fructose + fructose
D. glucose + galactose
6. Which of the following refers to an extremely diverse group of biological
molecules composed of monomers called amino acids?
A. Lipids
B. Nucleic acids
C. Proteins
D. Carbohydrates

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7. These are lipids characterized by a Carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings
that usually contain a few small functional groups including hydroxyls and
carboxyls.
A. Fats
B. Phospholipids
C. Steroids
D. Triglycerides
8. Which of the following carbohydrates is a Polysaccharide?
A. Glycogen
B. Fructose
C. Ribose
D. Galactose
9. Which of the following is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine in nerves and muscles?
A. Acetylcholinesterase
B. Amylase
C. Lactase
D. Maltase
10. It is a specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits around the substrate and it
is the keyhole of the lock.
A. Active site
B. Catalysis
C. Product
D. Substrate
11. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the factors that may affect
the enzyme’s reaction rate?
A. Once the shape of the active site was changed and the substrate cannot
bind to it, the enzyme has become denatured.
B. If the temperature is too high or if the environment is too acidic or alkaline,
the enzyme changes its shape.
C. Most enzymes in the human body work best at around 400C and above.
D. Enzymes can only function in a certain PH range (acidic/alkaline).
12. In primary structure, enzymes are made up of amino acids which are linked
together via ___________________.
A. Amide (peptide bonds)
B. Ester linkage
C. Glycosidic linkage
D. Phosphodiester Linkage
13. What do you call the process when a substrate was broken down or combined
with another molecule to make something new?
A. Catalysis
B. Catalyst
C. Biproduct
D. Metabolism

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 14. Which of the following is the structural formula of 6C Ketose Fructose?

a B. C. D.

15. An enzyme (E) and four other different molecules are shown in the diagram.

A. B. C. D.

The enzyme would most likely affect reactions involving ______________.

A. A and C
B. B only
C. C only
D. B and D

Lesson

1 Biological Molecules
(Lipids, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic Acids)

At the end of this lesson, students shall be able to:

1. describe the structure and functions of the different biological

molecules;
2. present simple molecular models of lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and
nucleic acids; and

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 3. relate the structure to the roles that these molecules play in biological
systems.

What’s In

Review the following concepts.

• Macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers.
• A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks.
• These small building-block molecules are called monomers.
• An immense variety of polymers can be built from a small set of monomers.
• Three of the four classes of life’s organic molecules are polymers such as:
Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic acids.
• Each cell has thousands of different macromolecules.
• Macromolecules vary among cells of an organism, vary more within a species, and
vary even more between species.

The Synthesis and Breakdown of Polymers

A dehydration reaction occurs when two monomers bond together through the loss
of a water molecule.

Polymers are disassembled to monomers by hydrolysis, a reaction that is essentially

the reverse of the dehydration reaction.

©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

“Carbon is Central to the Living World”

• Carbon is a central element to life because most biological molecules are built on
a carbon framework.
• The complexity of living things is facilitated by carbon’s linkage capacity.
• Carbon has great bonding capacity due to its structure.
• Carbon’s outer shell has only four of the eight electrons necessary for maximum
stability in most elements.
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 • Carbon atoms are thus able to form stable, covalent bonds with a wide variety of
atoms, including other carbon atoms.

Functional Groups
- Groups of atoms known as functional groups can explain special properties on
carbon-based molecules.

FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

Catenation Property of Carbon

Catenation is the bonding of atoms

of the same element into a series, called a
chain. A chain or a ring shape may be
open if its ends are not bonded to each
other (an open-chain compound), or
closed if they are bonded in a ring (a cyclic
compound).

Catenation occurs most readily with

carbon, which forms covalent bonds with
other carbon atoms to form longer chains
and structures. This is the reason for the presence of the vast
number of organic compounds in nature.

Wikipedia, s.v. “Catenation” last modified15 March 2020, at 04:17 (UTC).

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Tetravalency of Carbon
A carbon atom completes its
octet only by sharing its valence
electrons with other atoms. As a
result, a carbon atom forms four
covalent bonds by sharing valence
electrons with other atoms. This is
known as tetravalency of carbon
("tetra" means four).

Virtuoso, (blog) “Tetravalency of Carbon”

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What’s New

Activity 1

Objective: At the end of this activity, the students must be able to:
1. detect the presence of biological molecules in food products by observing
food labels; and
2. understand the roles played by biomolecules in biological in the body.

Direction: Get a sample of a food or nutrition label available at your home and
interpret the information written on the Nutrition Facts (you can see it at the back
of food products that you usually consume) then answer the guide questions in a
separate sheet of paper.

Guide Questions:

1. How much carbohydrates are present in one

serving? What kind of carbohydrates? What do
you think is the importance of consuming
carbohydrates in our diet?

2. How much fat is present in one serving?

What kind of fat? What do you think is the
importance of consuming fats in our diet?

3. How much protein is present in one serving?

What do you think is the importance of
consuming protein in our diet?

4. Do you think this food sample can be eaten

often or sparingly? Justify your answer.

*Take Note: Heterotrophs, such as human beings

and animals, obtain energy and raw materials
from food. These are important for cell growth, cell
division, metabolism, repair, and maintenance of
the body.
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 On the other hand, Good nutrition is an important part of leading a healthy
lifestyle. Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and
maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases (like heart disease
and cancer), and promote your overall health.

Things to consider

Percent Daily Value (DV) on the Nutrition Facts label is a guide to the nutrients in
one serving of food. For example, if the label lists 15% for calcium, it means that one
serving provides 15% of the calcium you need each day. DV s are based on a 2,000
calorie diet for healthy adults. On the other hand, Serving size is the first
piece of

information listed on the label. This is the amount of food that is typically eaten at

one time.

Not all nutrients, or ingredients, listed on a label are equal. Some are good and
should be eaten more. These include:

Fiber. Fiber helps your body digest the food you eat. It also can help lower your risk
of diabetes and heart disease. Food is high in fiber if it contains 5 grams or more per
serving. Men 50 years of age or you nger should get at least 38 grams of fiber per
day.

Women 50 years of age or younger should get at least 25 grams of fiber per day.
Fiber

is found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Look for the words “whole grain” on

the package and ingredient list.

Vitamins and minerals. The main types include, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and
iron. Vitamin D and potassium also are important. Talk to your doctor about what

vitamins and minerals you need and how much.

Others nutrients are bad and should be eaten less. These include:

Saturated fat. This type of fat can increase your risk of heart disease and high
cholesterol. The average adult should consume less than 20 grams of saturated fat
per day.

Trans fat. This type of fat also increases your risk of heart disease. Ideally, you
should get 0 grams of trans fat per day. Keep in mind, companies can list 0 grams if

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it contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving. This means that your food
may have trans fat even if the nutrition label says 0. Check the ingredient list for
trans fat products. This includes any hydrogenated vegetable oils. Trans fat often is
found in baked goods, fried foods, snack foods, and margarine.

Cholesterol. You should eat less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day. If you
have heart disease, aim for less than 200 milligrams per day.

Copyright © American Academy of Family Physicians

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 What is It

BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES
(Lipids, Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic Acids)
Certain groups of molecules essential to cellular functioning are commonly
found among plants, animals, humans, insects and microorganisms. These are
termed Biological molecules or simply known as biomolecules. Biomolecules share
common structural template among its group thereby allowing these to be easily
categorized. They have a wide range of sizes, structures and vast array of functions.
The four (4) major types of biomolecules are: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and
nucleic acids.

LIPIDS “diverse group of hydrophobic molecules”

- Lipids are naturally occurring organic compounds that do not dissolve in polar
solvents such as water that is why they are hydrophobic (insoluble in water). - They
are hydrophobic because they consist mostly of hydrocarbons, which form nonpolar
covalent bonds.
- The most biologically important lipids are fats, phospholipids, and steroids.

- Type of Linkage: Ester Linkage

All esters have a carbonyl carbon (C=O), as well as a variable hydrocarbon 'R'
group linked by an oxygen atom. Esters are usually formed when a carboxylic acid
reacts with an alcohol; the reaction forms a water molecule and an ester. This
reaction is called esterification.

1. Fats (triacylglycerol or triglycerides)- are constructed from two types of smaller

molecules: glycerol and fatty acids.
*Glycerol- is a three-carbon alcohol with a hydroxyl group attached to each
Carbon.
*Fatty acid- consists of a carboxyl group attached to a long carbon skeleton.

©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Functions of fats: energy storage, cushioning of vital organs (adipose tissue)

and insulates the body

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 Different Types of Fats

A. Saturated fats. Animal products such as butter and lard have a lot of
saturated fatty acids. Saturated fats consist of single bond, its linear structure
allows for the close packing of the fat molecules forming solids at room temperature.

B. Unsaturated fats. Plant and fish oils have unsaturated fatty acids. It
consists of double and triple bonds and contains less number of H atoms. The bent
structure of unsaturated fats prevents close packing and results in oils or fats that
are liquid at room temperature.

C. Trans fats or Trans unsaturated fatty acids. It may be produced

artificially through the process of hydrogenation. They are often found in partially
hydrogenated vegetable oils. The Cis double bonds are converted to trans double
bonds (H atoms on opposite sides) resulting in fats that behave like saturated fats.

Transfat
(Elaidic Acid)

Saturated Fatty Acid Unsaturated Fatty Acid

(Stearic Acid) (Oleic Acid)

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2. Phospholipids- It is a type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell
membrane.

- In a phospholipid, two fatty acids and a phosphate group are attached to

glycerol. Phosphate group is hydrophilic (soluble in water) and is called the ‘head’ of
the molecule while fatty acids are hydrophobic (insoluble in water) and form the ‘tails’
of the molecule.

©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

When phospholipids are added to water, they self-assemble into a bilayer, with
the hydrophobic tails pointing toward the interior.
Function of Phospholipids: major component of all cell membranes
- They assemble into bilayers when surrounded by water and form the
characteristic structure of plasma membranes.

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3. Steroids- are lipids characterized by a
Carbon skeleton consisting of four fused
rings.
- Steroid rings usually contain a few small
functional groups including hydroxyls
(OH) or carboxyls (-COO).
- Cholesterol and other steroids containing
©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
a hydroxyl group are called sterols.
Function and Examples of Steroids: important component of cell membranes which
alter membrane fluidity and as signaling molecules
- Cholesterol found in cell membranes regulates the rigidity of the cell membrane
and are the base material for the production of sex hormones like estradiol,
progesterone and testosterone.

CARBOHYDRATES “serve as fuel and building material”

-Carbohydrates are organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, in

a ratio of about two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom.
- They include sugars and the polymers of sugars.
- Type of Linkage: Glycosidic Linkage
Function of Carbohydrates: the main source of energy in all organisms.

Classifications of Carbohydrates
1. Monosaccharides (monos means single/one and sacchar means sugar). These
are simple sugars which contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1
and has the general formula written as (CH2O)n, where n is any whole number from
3 to 8.
Example: (CH2O)6 would have the formula C6H12O6.
- They are considered the major cellular nutrient and are often incorporated into more
complex carbohydrates
- They are classified by the location of the carbonyl group (as aldose or ketose)

Examples of Monosaccharides
A. Ribose- a 5C aldose that forms part of the backbone of nucleic acids.
B. Glucose-a 6C aldose that is also known as dextrose or blood sugar and is the
main source of energy for cells.
- it is also the product of photosynthesis and the substrate for respiration that
provides energy for cellular activities
C. Fructose- a 6C ketose that is found in many plants and is often bonded to
glucose.

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 - It is usually found in fruits and is also known as “corn sugar”, the sweetest
among other monosaccharides. It is ten times sweeter than galactose and is
usually present in sweet fruits like atis, melon and ripe mangoes.
D. Galactose- a 6C aldose that is found in milk and is usually combined with
glucose and fructose.

©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

2. Oligosaccharides are sugar polymers consist of short chains of monosaccharide

units that are linked through glycosidic bond. The number of monomer units in
the oligosaccharides usually range from 2-20.
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notesdefinition-types-classification-examples-and-functions/

Disaccharides (di means two). These are sugars which is consist of two sugar
units (C12H22O11) or two sugar molecules. It is the most common example of
oligosaccharide and are more often referred to as “simple carbohydrates” that
provide our body with quick source of energy.
- It is formed when a dehydration reaction joins two monosaccharides.
- The covalent bond between the two monosaccharides is called a glycosidic linkage.

Examples of Oligosaccharides

A. Sucrose (glucose + fructose)- found in table sugar processed from sugar cane,
sweet fruits, and storage roots like carrots.
B. Lactose (glucose + galactose)- milk sugar that is a source of energy for
infants; an enzyme called lactase is required to digest this.
C. Maltose (glucose + glucose)- often found in sprouting grains,
maltbasedenergy drinks, or beer.
D. Trehalose (a disaccharide of two alpha linked glucose residues)- a sugar
derived from insect cocoons. Some bacteria, fungi, plants and invertebrate
animals synthesize it as a source of energy, and to survive freezing and lack
of water.
D. Raffinose a trisaccharide of (galactose + glucose + fructose)- can be found
in beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables,
and whole grains

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3. Polysaccharides (poly means many). These are complex forms of carbohydrates
with more than 20 up to several thousand monosaccharides arranged in chains and
are joined by glycosidic linkages.

Two Categories of Polysaccharides

1. Homopolysaccharides- composed of a single type of monosaccharide

unit. Examples: starch, glycogen and cellulose.
2. Heteropolysaccharides- composed of more than one type of
monosaccharide units. Examples: Peptidoglycan, Chondroitin,
Heparin
© easy biology class 2020, “Carbohydrates”
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examples-and-functions/

Examples of Polysaccharides

A. Starch is the nutrient storage form

of carbohydrates in plants. These are
present in plant parts like potato
tubers, corn, and rice and serve as
major sources of energy.

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B. Glycogen is the nutrient storage
form of carbohydrates in animals. It is
often found in liver cells and muscle
cells.

C. Cellulose are tough sheet -like

structures that make up plant and
algal cell walls that may be processed
to form paper and paper -based
products.

D. Chitin is a
tough
carbohydrate
that serves as
structural support
in the walls of
fungi and in external skeletons of arthropods.

E. Peptidoglycan is used for

structural support in bacterial cell
walls.

© 2011, Pearson Education, Inc.

PROTEINS “include a diversity of structures, resulting in a wide range of

functions”

-Proteins are extremely diverse group of biological molecules composed of monomers

called amino acids that are linked by a strong peptide bond.
- They are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms. Sulfur,
phosphorus and iron may also be present.
- Sequences of amino acids are strung together to produce polypeptide chains, which
then fold up into working proteins.
- Type of Linkage: Peptide Bond

Functions of Proteins: structural support, storage, transport, cellular

communications, movement, and defense against foreign substances.

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 Different types of Proteins
A. Enzymatic Proteins
Function: selective acceleration of
chemical reactions
Example: Digestive enzymes
catalyze the hydrolysis of bonds in
food molecules.

B. Storage Proteins
Function: storage of amino
acids
Examples: Casein, the protein of
milk, is the major source of
amino acids for baby mammals.
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 Plants have storage proteins in their seeds. Ovalbumin is the protein of egg white,
used as an amino acid source for the developing embryo.
C. Hormonal Proteins
Function: coordination of an
organism’s activities
Example: Insulin, a
hormone secreted by the
pancreas, causes other tissues to
take up glucose, thus regulating blood sugar concentration
D. Contractile and motor Protein
Function: movement
Examples: Motor proteins are
responsible for the undulations of cilia
and flagella. Actin and myosin proteins
are responsible for the contraction of
muscles.

E. Defensive Proteins
Function: protection against
disease Example: Antibodies inactivate
and help destroy viruses and bacteria.

F. Transport Proteins
Function: transport of substances
Examples: Hemoglobin, the iron-containing
protein of vertebrate blood, transports oxygen
from the lungs to other parts of the body. Other
proteins transport molecules across cell membranes.
G. Receptor Proteins
Function: response of cell to chemical
stimuli
Example: Receptors built into the
membrane of a nerve cell detect signaling molecules released by other nerve cells.
H. Structural Proteins
Function: support
Examples: Keratin is the protein of hair,
horns, feathers, and other skin
appendages. Insects and spiders use
silk fibers to make their cocoons and
webs, respectively. Collagen and
elastin proteins provide a fibrous framework in animal connective tissues.
© 2011, Pearson Education, Inc.

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NUCLEIC ACIDS “store, transmit, and help express hereditary information”

- Nucleic acids are complex substances present in living cells specially DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid), whose molecules consists of
many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
- Type of Linkage: Phophodiester Linkage

Components of Nucleic Acids

- Nucleic acids are polymers
called polynucleotides.
- Each polynucleotide is
made of monomers called
nucleotides.
- Each nucleotide consists of
a nitrogenous base, a
pentose sugar, and one or
more phosphate groups.
- The portion of a nucleotide
without the phosphate group is
called a nucleoside
©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Functions of Nucleic Acids: create, encode and then store information of every living
cell/ every-life form organism on earth
- they transmit and express the genetic information inside and outside the cell’s
nucleus to the interior operations of the cell and ultimately to the next generation of
each living organism.
Two Families of Nitrogenous bases
1. Pyrimidines (cytosine, thymine, and uracil) have a single six-membered ring
2. Purines (adenine and guanine) have a six membered ring fused to a
fivemembered ring.

©2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Two Types of Nucleic acids
1. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) it is a double stranded nucleotide composed of sugar
(deoxyribose), a phosphate group and nitrogenous base.

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 - The protein that binds DNA is known as histone.

https://www.compoundchem.com/2015/03/24/dna/

Location of DNA in a Chromosome

CHROMOSOME

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2. Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) - it is made up of nucleotide arranged in a single strand
and is composed of sugar (ribose), a phosphate group and nitrogenous base.
- It functions in converting genetic information from genes into the amino acid
sequences of proteins.
Different Types of RNA

A. mRNA (messenger RNA)- acts to carry genetic sequence information

between DNA and ribosomes, directing protein synthesis.
B. tRNA (transfer RNA)- serves as the carrier molecule for amino acids to be
used in protein synthesis, and is responsible for decoding the mRNA.
C. rRNA (ribosomal RNA)- is a major component of the ribosome, and catalyzes
peptide bond formation.

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 What’s More

Enrichment Activity: BIOMOLECULE CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Direction: Identify the terms being described and solve the Crossword Puzzle using
the hints provided. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

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 CROSSWORD PUZZLE HINTS

HORIZONTAL
1. are substances produced by cells and living organisms
3. a diverse group of hydrophobic molecules
4. energy storage, cushioning of vital organs (adipose tissue) and insulates the
body
6. are lipids characterized by a Carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings
7. simple sugars
10. a type of protein responsible for the undulations of cilia and flagella
12. are complex substances present in living cells specially DNA or RNA
13. double stranded nucleotide composed of sugar (deoxyribose)
14. a single stranded nucleotide
15. a protein responsible for coordination of an organism’s activities
16. is the nutrient storage form of carbohydrates in plants
17. (glucose + glucose)
18. also known as dextrose or blood sugar

VERTICAL
2. serve as fuel and building material
5. a type of lipid molecule that is the main component of the cell membrane
8. often referred to as “simple carbohydrates”
9. composed of monomers called amino acids that are linked by a strong
peptide bond
11. a type of protein that functions as support
19. a monosaccharide that is usually found in milk
20.a polysaccharide that is used for structural support in bacterial cell walls

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 What I Have Learned

Direction: Provide the information needed to complete the table below.

Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

FUNCTION/ROLE
BIOLOGICAL TYPE OF
TO BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURE EXAMPLES
MOLECULES LINKAGE
SYSTEMS

LIPIDS

CARBOHYDRATES

PROTEINS

NUCLEIC ACIDS

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 What I Can Do

Application
● Direction: Give the role/function of the following Biological
Molecules and write at least two examples or sources of each of them that we
utilize in our everyday living. Then, create a simple molecular model of each
Biomolecule inside the circle.

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 Additional Activities

Direction: Cut some pictures of Biological Molecules (Lipids,

Carbohydrates, Proteins and Nucleic Acids) from old magazines,
make a collage out of it and explain the importance of knowing the
structure, function and role of Biomolecules. Do your work on a long bond paper.

Rubrics:
Creativity - 10
Resourcefulness - 5
Neatness - 5
Organization of Idea - 5
Total 25

Lesson

2 Biological Molecules
(Components of Enzymes)

At the end of this lesson, students shall be able to:

1. identify the components of enzymes

2. explain different factors that affect the activities of enzymes
3. explore the use of enzymes in oxidation/reduction reactions

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What’s In

Direction: Have a review of the previous lesson using the concept map
below.

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`

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 What’s New
Activity 1

“ENZYMES AND THEIR FUNCTIONS: LOCK-AND-KEY MODEL”

Objective: To introduce the concept of enzymes and

their functions through a LOCK-AND-KEY model by
using real locks and keys as an analogy.

Materials needed: 3 sets of locks and keys

Procedure -Part 1
1. Get at least 3 sets of locks and keys available at home.
2. Try all keys with all locks and answer the following
questions about it.
a. Were you able to open all locks using 1 key only? _______________________
b. Do all keys open all locks according to set? _____________________________
c. Can 1 key open more than 1 lock? ______________________________________
d. Can you open the same lock with the same key more than once? ________
e. Do all keys have the same shape? ______________________________________
f. Do all locks have the same slot?
_______________________________________________
Procedure - Part 2
Base from your previous observations, make 3 predictions about the three sets of keys.
Hint: Think about the specificity and reusability of the keys, and about the shape of the
locks/keys.

Predictions:
a. _________________________________________________________
b._________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
*Remember: When you go home at night and the door is locked, can it open itself? NO
of course. You need a key that is just the right shape to fit in that lock. Otherwise you're
stuck outside. Enzymes work in a similar way. Enzymes complete very specific jobs and
do nothing else. There are very specific locks and the compounds they work with are
the special keys.

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 What is It
Biological Molecules
(Components of Enzymes)
Enzymes are compounds that assist chemical reactions by increasing the rate at
which they occur. They are proteins that are found in all living organisms. The seemingly
simple act of breaking down food molecules to release energy is a series of dozens of
chemical reactions. Without enzymes, most chemicals reactions within cells would occur
so slowly that cells would not be able to work properly, and energy would not be released
fast enough to support living organisms. Enzymes are not changed during the chemical
reactions that they accelerate so they can be reused over and over again.

Functions of Enzymes

- Enzymes function as catalysts that accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction without
being destroyed or changed. They increase the speed of that reaction, typically by
1061014 times faster than the rate of the uncatalysed reaction.
For example:
• The digestive system – enzymes help the body break down larger complex
molecules into smaller molecules, such as glucose, so that the body can use them
as fuel.
• DNA replication – Enzymes help in this process by unwinding the DNA coils and
copying the information.
• Liver enzymes – the liver breaks down toxins in the body. To do this, it uses a
range of enzymes.
- The chemical reactions that keep us alive – our metabolism – rely on the work that
enzymes carry out.
- Enzymes are generally named after the substrate affected, and their names usually
end in -ase. • Maltase digests sugar in beer
For example: (maltose)
• Acetylcholinesterase breaks
• Protease breaks down proteins down the neurotransmitter
• Lipase breaks down lipids acetylcholine in nerves and
• Carbohydrase breaks muscles
down carbohydrates
• Amylase digests starch (amylose)
• Lactase digests milk
sugar
(lactose)
• ATP synthase synthesizes ATP
• DNA polymerase synthesizes
DNA

31
 How do Enzymes work?

(1) An ENZYME and a SUBSTRATE are in the same area. The substrate is the
biological molecule that the enzyme will work on.
(2) The enzyme grabs onto the substrate with a special area called the ACTIVE
SITE. The active site is a specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits around the
substrate and it is the keyhole of the lock.
(3) A process called CATALYSIS happens. Catalysis is when the substrate is
changed. It could be broken down or combined with another molecule to make
something new.
(4) The enzyme lets go. When the enzyme lets go, it returns to normal, ready to
do another reaction. The substrate is no longer the same. The substrate is now called
the PRODUCT.

Factors Components of Enzymes that

May Affect
the
Enzyme’s Activities

The rate of the reaction between an enzyme and a substrate can be affected
by different factors. Some of the factors that can affect enzyme activity are
temperature, pH, concentration of the enzyme and concentration of the substrate.
• Enzymes can only work in certain conditions. Most enzymes in the human
body work best at around 37°C – body temperature. At lower temperatures,
they will still work but much more slowly.

• Similarly, enzymes can only function in a certain pH range (acidic/alkaline).

Their preference depends on where they are found in the body. For instance,
enzymes in the intestines work best at 7.5 pH, whereas enzymes in the
stomach work best at pH 2 because the stomach is much more acidic.

• If the temperature is too high or if the environment is too acidic or alkaline,

the enzyme changes shape; this alters the shape of the active site so that
substrates cannot bind to it – the enzyme has become denatured.

Structure of Enzymes

Primary structure
Enzymes are made up of amino acids which are linked together via amide
(peptide) bonds in a linear chain. This is the primary structure. The resulting amino
acid chain is called a polypeptide or protein. The specific order of amino acid in the
protein is encoded by the DNA sequence of the corresponding gene.
Secondary structure
The hydrogen in the amino group (NH2) and the oxygen in the carboxyl group
(COOH) of each amino acid can bond with each other by means of hydrogen bond,
this means that the amino acids in the same chain can interact with each other. As
a result, the protein chain can fold up on itself, and it can fold up in two ways,
resulting in two secondary structures: it can either wrap round forming the α-helix,
or it can fold on top of itself forming the β-sheet.

In the images above, the dotted lines represent the hydrogen bonds. There are
two forms of β-sheet, depending on the direction of the protein chain. If the direction
alternates between every fold, it forms an anti-parallel sheet; if it remains the same
direction, it forms a parallel sheet.
Tertiary structure
As a consequence of the folding-up of
the 2D linear chain in the secondary
structure, the protein can fold up further and
in doing so gains a three-dimensional
structure. This is its tertiary structure.

What is the role of Enzymes in

Oxidation/Reduction Reactions?
 Redox enzymes are a general term for enzymes that catalyze the redox between
two molecules. Among them, oxidase can catalyze the oxidation of substances by
oxygen, and dehydrogenase can catalyze the removal of hydrogen from material
molecules.
Numerous redox enzymes in organisms require coenzyme NAD or NADP as well
as FAD or FMN when reacting while some enzymes do not require a coenzyme or a
prosthetic group, and directly use oxygen as a carrier of electrons, such as glucose
oxidase.
The process of redox reaction in a living body has a movement of a pair of
hydrogen atoms, the transfer of electrons, or an oxygen atom addition. A substance
giving electrons or H to oxidize is called an electron donor or a hydrogen donor. A
substance that acts as an oxidant and accepts electrons or hydrogen and is itself
reduced is called an electron acceptor or a hydrogen acceptor.
NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
NADP (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate)
FAD (flavin adenine dinucleotide)
FMN (Flavin mononucleotide)
Creative Diagnostics. 2020 “Redox Enzymes” https://www.creative-
diagnostics.com/redoxenzymes.htm#:~:text=Redox%20enzymes%20are%20a%20general,of%20hydrog
en%20from%20materi al%20molecules.

Reduction-Oxidation Reactions
The majority of the reactions occur in the context of metabolic pathways
(connected sets of metabolic reactions) where compounds may be consumed by the
cell, broken down into smaller parts and then reassembled into larger
macromolecules.
Biochemical reactions in living organisms are essentially energy transfers.
Often they occur together, "linked", in what are referred to as oxidation/reduction
reactions.
Transferring electrons between two compounds results in one of these
compounds loosing an electron, and one of the compounds gaining an electron.
Compound A starts as neutral and becomes positively charged. Compound B
starts as neutral and becomes negatively charged. Because electrons are negatively
charged, you can follow the movement of electrons from compound A to B by looking
at the change in charge. (A) looses an electron (becoming positively charged), and in
so doing we say that (A) has become oxidized.
Oxidation is associated with the loss of electrons. (B) gains the electron (becoming
negatively charged), and we say that (B) has become reduced.
Reduction is associated with gain of electrons. Since something happened that
energy must have been either transferred and/or reorganized in this process and
we'll consider this shortly.
 The full reaction is A +B goes to A+ + B-. The two half reactions are shown in
the blue box. (A) is oxidized by the reaction and (B) is reduced by the reaction.
When electron(s) is lost, or a molecule is oxidized, the electron(s) must then
passed to another molecule. The molecule gaining the electron is said to be reduced.
The oxidation and reduction reactions are always paired in what is known as an
oxidation-reduction reaction (also called a red/ox reaction).
Remember the Definitions:

Biology Libre Text. 2019 “Redox Reactions” Last updated Jun 23, 2019.
https://bio.libretexts.org/Courses/University_of_California_Davis/BIS_2A_(2018)%3A_Introductory_B
iology_(Singer)/Bis2A_Winter_2019/Lecture_08%3A_Redox_reactions

Examples of Redox Reactions

A. Determining the oxidation number of the elements in each compound.

1. H2CO3
Answer: H: +1, O: -2, C: +4
2. Zn(OH)42-
Answer: Zn: 2+, H: +1, O: -2
B. Identifying the species being oxidized and reduced in each reaction.

1. Cr+ +Sn4+ Cr3+ +Sn2+

Answer: Cr+: oxidized, Sn4+: reduced
2. 3Hg2+ +2Fe(s) 3Hg2 +2Fe3+
Answer: Hg2+: reduced, Fe: oxidized
C. Writing balanced equations for each reaction.

1. Cr(OH)3 + Br2 CrO42- + Br- in basic solution

Answer: 10 OH- + 2 Cr(OH)3 + 3 Br2 2 CrO42- + 8 H2O + 6 Br-

2. O2 + Sb H2O2 + SbO2- in basic solution

Answer: 2 OH- + 2 Sb + 3 O2 + 2 H2O 2 SbO2- + 3 H2O2

http://chp090.chemistry.wustl.edu/~coursedev/Online%20tutorials/Plink/redoxkey.htm
 What’s More

Enrichment Activity: “ARRANGE THE

JUMBLED LETTERS”
Direction: Arrange the jumbled letters appropriately. Use the hints to answer each
item correctly.

1. NEZESYM are compounds that assist chemical reactions

2. AALCTTSYS accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction

3. EPEAROTS breaks down proteins

4. ALEATMS digests sugar in beer (maltose)

5. DRAREBCAOHYS breaks down carbohydrates

6. AELMAYS digests starch (amylose)

7. UTRBSATSE biological molecule that the enzyme will work on

8. LYSTAICAS a process that occurs when a substrate was changed

into something new

9. VECTESAIIT a specially shaped area of the enzyme that fits

around the substrate

10. TYSACETEOLIRALCHNESE breaks down acetylcholine

 Solve the following Redox Reactions

A. Determine the oxidation number of the elements in each of the following

compounds.

1. N2

2. NO2-

3. LiH

4. Fe3O4

B. Identify the species being oxidized and reduced in each of the following
reactions:

5. 2 As (s) + 3 Cl2 (g) 2 AsCl3

C. Write balanced equations for the following redox reactions:

6. NaBr + Cl2 NaCl + Br2

7. Fe2O3 + CO Fe + CO2 in acidic solution

8. CO + I2O5 CO2 + I2 in basic solution

D. Write balanced equations for the following reactions:

9. HCOOH + MnO4- CO2 + Mn2+ in acidic solution

10. ClO2- ClO2 + Cl- in acidic solution

http://chp090.chemistry.wustl.edu/~coursedev/Online%20tutorials/Plink/redoxkey.htm
 What I Have Learned

Generalization
Direction: Answer the following as best as you can. Please do it on
a separate sheet of paper.

1-2. What are enzymes?

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3-4. What is a catalyst?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5-6. How do enzymes work?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7-10. What are the four (4) factors that may affect the reaction rate of enzymes?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
11-14. Enumerate the components of enzymes.
______________________________________________________ 15-17.
Give the three structures of enzymes.
______________________________________________________
18-25. Give eight (8) examples of enzymes and their functions.
________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
________________________________ ________________________________
 What I Can Do

Direction: Read the article entitled “Applications of Enzymes to

our Everyday Living” and make a simple collage by cutting
pictures from old magazines or any printed materials to emphasize its
significance to our lives. You may also make your own title for your collage. Do
your work on a long bond paper.

“Applications of Enzymes to Our Everyday Living”

Enzymes are very useful catalysts in many different industrial processes
because they perform very specifically, at a particular processing step in the
manufacture of a product. The enzymes used in industrial processes also originate
from nature, and therefore can be used in the same way as nature does.
They help to provide environmental friendly products to consumers, which are
manufactured using less energy, water and raw materials – and generating less waste.
Enzymes are used to make and improve nearly 400 everyday consumer and
commercial products. They are used in foods and beverages processing, animal
nutrition, textiles, household cleaning and fuel for cars and energy generation.
Enzymes are widely used by the food industry for processing raw materials for
the production of numerous and common products such as dairy, bakery products,
meat products, fruit products, beer and wine.
They are also used in numerous technical applications such as in paper
recycling to remove ink, laundry and dishwashing detergents (to remove grease,
starch and protein stains), textile processing and fabric finishing (i.e. to remove
impurities, to provide a stone washed effect), ethanol production to break down the
starch and cellulose into fermentable sugars.
https://amfep.org/about-enzymes/applications/

Rubrics:
Creativity 10
Organization of Concept 5
Resourcefulness 5
Neatness 5
TOTAL 25
 Additional Activities

Direction: Illustrate the Components of Enzymes as well as its three

(3) different structures (primary, secondary and tertiary) and label it.
You are free to use any medium (crayons/water color/oil
pastel/colored papers/old magazines) for your work. Please use long bond papers.

Rubrics:

Creativity - 10
Resourcefulness - 5
Neatness and organization - 5
Total 25