University Biology 1: SCIE2004 Macromolecules Assignment Solution

This document presents a comprehensive solution to a biology assignment, focusing on the structure and function of macromolecules. Part A delves into the properties of pyrimidines, ethanol and ethanal, stearic and oleic acids, and butyl ethanoate, providing detailed explanations of their chemical characteristics and reactions. Part B explores the roles of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the human body, including their functions in energy provision, structural support, and cell membrane composition. The assignment also examines the role of these macromolecules in cell membranes. Part C addresses enzyme inhibition, amino acid sequences, DNA transcription and translation, and the differences between DNA and RNA. The assignment includes an analysis of amino acid sequence similarities and double-stranded DNA structure. References are provided to support the information presented.

Running head =BIOLOGY 0
Biology
Macromolecules
Student Details
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Biology 1
Part A
Answer 1
Pyrimidine is a ring structured aromatic compound comprises of 6 members in the ring
structure similar to benzene, however, in the place of carbon at 1st and 3rd place nitrogen is
present results in the basic chemical formula of C4H4N2. In nature, it is present as an integral part
of the genetic information unit, in the form of cytosine, uracil, and thymine (Brockman &
Anderson, 2012).
Answer 2
Ethanol characterized by –OH functional group, the lone pair of electron on the oxygen
atom results in the hydrogen bond formation among the other ethanol molecules. Ethanal
characterized by –CHO functional group, due to the presence of partial positive and negative
charge on carbon and oxygen respectively, it results in the formation of dipole bonds between
ethanal molecules.
Difference in boiling point
The energy required to break hydrogen bond is much higher than dipole bond, therefore
ethanol has a higher boiling point than ethanal (Weinhold & Klein, 2014).
Answer 3
Steric acid is an 18 carbon chain saturated molecule that corresponds to the absence of a
double bond. Oleic acid is an 18 carbon chain unsaturated molecule that corresponds to the
presence of a double bond.

Biology 2
Difference in melting point
The difference in melting point is primarily attributed to the structure of these molecules
as the saturated molecule forms a linear structure corresponds to higher interaction. In the case of
the unsaturated molecule, the double bonds resulted in the non-linear structure, which results in
less number of intermolecular interactions among the unsaturated molecules (Maddikeri, Pandit,
& Gogate, 2012).
Answer 4
Butyl ethanoate that is commonly known as n-butyl acetate belongs to the ester group in
the organic compound. The functional group associated with the ester is R-COO-R.
Synthesis of butyl ethanoate
The synthesis of butyl ethanoate could be carried out in a laboratory with the help of a
Fisher esterification reaction using reactants such as butanol and acetic acid.The reaction is
catalyzed using H2SO4 as a catalyst, in a set up suitable for reflux condition (Britton, Dalziel, &
Raston, 2015).
Part B
Function of Macromolecule in body
Introduction
The most preferred source of energy for cells is glucose in comparison to the other
macromolecules like lipids or protein. The blood glucose level is very important for the proper
functioning of the body particularly in the context of brain cells as the brain cells only utilize

Biology 3
glucose as a source of energy. The human body is made of a number of different types of protein,
and each of the protein has its unique function. In terms of energy providing ability, 1 g of the fat
molecule can produce twice the energy in comparison to the 1 g of glucose molecules.
Role of carbohydrate
The primary function of carbohydrate in the human body is to provide energy to bodily
function, work as a unit of energy storage, in the production of other macromolecules and lipid
metabolism. Approximately 70 % of the glucose intake is transferred through the blood to a
different part of the body for utilization as an energy source (Mergenthaler, Lindauer, Dienel, &
Meisel, 2013). The transport of glucose from the blood to the cell takes place with the help of a
transport protein present on the cell membrane. The source of energy in glucose is the bond
between two carbon molecules. The cells with the help of different biochemical and enzymatic
pathways break this carbon bond of glucose and the energy produced is used for the functioning
of cells (Sisley & Sandoval, 2011). The conversion of glucose glycogen is the step taken by the
body for energy storage in cases where an ample amount of glucose is present.
Role of protein
Protein is one of the primary building blocks of cell structure and protein is made of a
long chain of amino acids. In general, a protein is comprised of close to 300 molecules of amino
acids. The amino acids are the building blocks of protein. 20 different types of amino acids are
found in both plants and animals. The amino acids are classified as essential amino acids and
non- essential amino acids (Munro, 2012). The body is not able to synthesis essential amino
acids therefore the intake of these amino acids must be considered in the diet for the proper
function of the body. Based on the sequence of amino acid the structure and folding of a protein
are determined, which provides a unique shape to the particular protein. The shape of a protein is

Biology 4
the primary determinant of the protein function (Whitford, 2013). Some of the functions
associated with proteins are oxygen transport from lungs to the different parts of the body with
the help of hemoglobin, the hormones secreted by the different glands of the body that are
responsible for the regulation of normal body function. The secretion of immune protein by the
different immune system associated cells of the body for the fight against foreign antigen is
another example of the vital function of the protein in the body.
Role of lipid/fat
As briefly discussed in the earlier section the unused carbohydrates are stored in the body
within the adipose tissues as commonly known as fatty tissue. The energy requirement of the
body is fulfilled by carbohydrate molecules mainly glucose molecules, however, in case of
deficiency of glucose or due to starvation, the supply of energy is maintained by the fat
molecules stored in the body. The body cells have limited ability to store the fat molecules;
therefore, the fat molecules are densely stored in the adipose tissues. The function of fats in the
body corresponds to the regulation of the internal atmosphere of the body such as helping in the
management of constant temperature of the body. The triglycerides have been associated with
the production and regulation of hormones such as “leptin” which is responsible for the
regulation of apatite. The fatty acids belonging to the Omega group such as Omega 3 and Omega
6 fatty acids have been attributed to the regulation of blood cholesterol along with control over
joint inflammation (Saini & Keum, 2018). The lipids have been associated with the proper
functioning of the brain as they provide cushion to the neuron along with the facilitation of signal
transport throughout the brain.

Biology 5
Role of carbohydrate, lipid and protein in cell membrane
The membrane of a cell works as a border, that would separate or sometimes differentiate
cells from other cells present in the surroundings, also the internal membrane of the cells helps in
the segregation of the function of the cells. The primary structure of the cell membrane is
comprised of macromolecules such as carbohydrate, protein, and lipid. The carbohydrates are
attached with the help of a covalent bond to membrane proteins or the lipids; the role of cell
adhesion to the tissue framework is maintained by the carbohydrate present on the cell surface.
The lipids that are present in the cell membranes, the glycoprotein have oligosaccharides
attached at the head. The glycolipids are also associated with the site-specific identification with
the help of carbohydrate-binding protein. Proteoglycan is associated with the presence of long-
chain of polysaccharides attached to a protein core that is generally observed at the outer cell
area known as the extracellular matrix. In the case of ion channels formation and other
membrane transport channels, the protein core of the proteoglycan is extended through the
membrane.
Conclusion
The macromolecules of carbohydrate, protein, and lipid play a vital role in the
functioning of the body and regulation of different physiological activity of the body. The
macromolecules help is formation and working of the cell membrane, lipids are primarily
associated with the membrane structure, carbohydrate works as a signal receptor in the
combination with proteins, protein also works as a membrane transport channel.
Part C
Answer 1

Biology 6
Enzyme inhibition corresponds to the blockage of the site that would be available for the
normal catalyzing reaction of the enzyme if the inhibitor was not present. In the context of
penicillin inhibition results in inhibition of cell wall synthesis as it binds with the trans peptidase
enzyme.
Answer 2
The amino acid sequence for the strand
DNA Sequence 1: 3'- TAAAATCAGCTCTAGACGGTACTCTACTAGTCATGGTCCATG- 5'
Amino acid sequence = ILE LEU VAL GLU ILE CYS HIS GLU MET ILE SER THR ARG
TYR DNA Sequence 2: 3'-CGGGGGCGGTAGTCCTCAACCTAGTGGGTGTGG- 5'
Amino acid sequence = ALA PRO ALA ILE ARG SER TRP ILE THR HIS THR
Answer 3
Transcription and Translation of DNA sequence
Normal hemoglobin DNA C A C G T G G A C T G A G G A C T C C T C T T C
Transcription = GUG CAC CUG ACU CCU GAG GAG AAG
Translation = VAL HIS LEU THR PRO GLU GLU LYS
Sickle cell hemoglobin DNA C A C G T G G A C T G A G G A C A C C T C T T C
Transcription = GUG CAC CUG ACU CCU GUG GAG AAG

Biology 7
Translation = VAL HIS LEU THR PRO VAL GLU LYS
The glutamate at the 6th position is replaced with valine in the structure of sickle cell
hemoglobin, resulting in creation of hydrophobic spot, resulting in deformed structure of
hemoglobin .
Answer 4
The molecules present in DNA are Guanine, Adenine , Thymine , Cytosine and 2-deoxy-
D-ribose,
The molecule present in RNA are Guanine, Adenine ,Cytosine , D-ribose, Uracil
Answer 5
Human DVEKGKKIFIM
1.Rhesus monkey DVEKGKKIFIM
2. Bullfrog DVEKGKKIFVQ
3.Chicken DIEKGKKIFVQ
.4 Silkworm moth NAENGKKIFVQ
5. Tuna DVAKGKKTFVQ

Biology 8
The resemblance in amino acid sequence results in similar protein structure, which
generally corresponds to similar function , hence close evolutionary mechanism of that protein
formation.
Answer 6
Double stranded DNA: 5' - ATGTACGCTACTTGA - 3'
3' - TACATGCGATGAACT -5'
(a) Coding stand = 5' - ATGTACGCTACTTGA - 3'
Template strand = 3' - TACATGCGATGAACT -5'
(b) mRNA strand from the template strand = AUG UAC GCU ACU UGA
(c) Anticodon of tRNA = UAC AUG CGA UGAACU
(d) MET TYR ALA THR STOP

Biology 9
References
Britton, J., Dalziel, S., & Raston, C. (2015). Continuous flow Fischer esterifications harnessing
vibrational-coupled thin film fluidics. RSC Advances, 1655-1660.
Brockman, R., & Anderson, E. (2012). Pyrimidine analogues. Metabolic inhibitors, 239-285.
Maddikeri, G., Pandit, A., & Gogate, P. (2012). Adsorptive removal of saturated and unsaturated
fatty acids using ion-exchange resins. ndustrial & engineering chemistry research , 6869-
6876.
Mergenthaler, P., Lindauer, U., Dienel, G., & Meisel, A. (2013). Sugar for the brain: the role of
glucose in physiological and pathological brain function. Trends in neurosciences, 587-
597.
Munro, H. (2012). Mammalian protein metabolism. Elsevier.
Saini, R., & Keum, Y.-S. (2018). Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Dietary
sources, metabolism, and significance—A review. Life sciences, 255-267.
Sisley, S., & Sandoval, D. (2011). Hypothalamic control of energy and glucose metabolism.
Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 219-233.
Weinhold, F., & Klein, R. (2014). What is a hydrogen bond? Resonance covalency in the
supramolecular domain. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 276-285.
Whitford, D. (2013). Proteins: structure and function. John Wiley & Sons.