WHAT IS THE MACROMOLECULAR LEVEL? - BIOLOGY - 2025

The macromolecular level refers to everything that has to do with large molecules, usually with a diameter ranging from 100 to 10,000 angstograms, called macromolecules.

These molecules are the smallest units of substances that maintain their own characteristics. The macromolecule is a unit, but it is considered larger than the ordinary molecule.

At the macromolecular level, structures begin to form that may belong to living things. In this case, the simpler molecules begin to form larger molecular chains that at the same time join to form others and so on.

The term macromolecule means large molecule. A molecule is a substance that is made up of more than one atom. Macromolecules are made up of more than 10,000 atoms.

Plastics, resins, rubbers, many natural and synthetic fibers, and biologically important proteins and nucleic acids are some of the substances that are made up of macromolecular units. Another term used to refer to macromolecules are polymers.

Level

Macromolecules

Macromolecules are very large molecules, like protein, commonly created by the polymerization of smaller units called monomers. They are typically made up of thousands of atoms or more.

The most common macromolecules in biochemistry are biopolymers (nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates) and large non-polymeric molecules such as lipids and macrocycles.

Synthetic macromolecules include common plastics and synthetic fibers, as well as experimental materials like carbon nanotubes.

While in biology it refers to macromolecules as the large molecules that living things are made up of, in chemistry the term can refer to the aggregation of two or more molecules held together by inter-molecular forces rather than by covalent bonds that do not dissociate. easily.

Macromolecules often have physical properties that do not occur in smaller molecules.

For example, DNA is a solution that can be broken down by passing the solution through a straw because the physical forces of the particle can exceed the strength of the covalent bonds.

Another common property of macromolecules is their relative and solubility in water and similar solvents since they form colloids.

Many require salt or particular ions to be dissolved in the water. Similarly, many proteins will denature if the solute concentration in their solution is too high or too low.

High concentrations of macromolecules in some solution can alter the constant equilibrium levels of the reactions of other macromolecules, through an effect known as macromolecular crowding.

This occurs since macromolecules exclude other molecules from a large part of the volume of the solution; thus increasing the effective concentrations of these molecules.

Organelles

Diagram of an animal cell and its parts (Source: Alejandro Porto via Wikimedia Commons)

Macromolecules can form aggregates within a cell that are covered by membranes; These are called organelles.

Organelles are small structures that exist within many cells. Examples of organelles include chloroplasts and mitochondria, which carry out essential functions.

Mitochondria produce energy for the cell while chloroplasts allow green plants to use the energy in sunlight to make sugars.

All living things are made up of cells, and the cell as such is the smallest fundamental unit of structure and function in living organisms.

In larger organisms, cells combine to make tissues, which are groups of similar cells that carry out similar or related functions.

Linear biopolymers

All living organisms are dependent on three essential biopolymers for their biological functions: DNA, RNA, and proteins.

Each of these molecules is required for life since each one plays a different and indispensable role in the cell.

DNA makes RNA and then RNA makes proteins.

DNA

It is the molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, function and reproduction of all living organisms and many viruses.

It is a nucleic acid; Together with proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates they form one of the four types of macromolecules essential for all known forms of life.

RNA

Nitrogen is a fundamental part of the nitrogenous bases that make up nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA (Source: File: Difference DNA RNA-DE.svg: Sponk / * translation: Sponk via Wikimedia Commons)

It is an essential polymeric molecule in various biological roles such as coding, coding, regulation and expression of genes. Along with DNA, it is also a nucleic acid.

Like DNA, RNA is composed of a chain of nucleotides; Unlike DNA, it is more often found in nature as a single branch bent on itself, rather than a double branch.

Protein

Proteins are macromolecules made from blocks of amino acids. There are thousands of proteins in organisms, and many are made up of hundreds of amino acid monomers.

Macromolecules used in industry

In addition to the important biological macromolecules, there are three large groups of macromolecules that are important in industry. These are elastomers, fibers, and plastics.

Elastomers

They are macromolecules that are flexible and elongated. This elastic property allows these materials to be used in products with elastic bands.

These products can be stretched but still return to their original structure. Rubber is a natural elastomer.

Fibers

Polyester, nylon, and acrylic fibers are used in many elements of everyday life; from shoes, to belts, through blouses and shirts.

The fiber macromolecules look like ropes that are woven together and are quite strong. Natural fibers include silk, cotton, wool, and wood.

Plastics

Many of the materials we use today are made of macromolecules. There are many types of plastics, but all of them are made through a process called polymerization (joining monomer units to form plastic polymers). Plastics do not occur naturally in nature.

References

1. RNA. Recovered from wikipedia.org.
2. Levels of organization of living things. Recovered from boundless.com.
3. DNA. Recovered from wikipedia.org.
4. Macromolecules: definition, types and examples. Recovered from study.com.
5. Macromolecule. Recovered from wikipedia.org.
6. Macromolecule. Recovered from britannica.com.