Biomolecule

A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing alpha helices, represented by ribbons. This protein was the first to have its structure solved by X-ray crystallography by Max Perutz and John Kendrew in 1958, for which they received a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

A biomolecule is any molecule produced by a living organism. That includes large macromolecules such as proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids, as well as many smaller molecules.

Biomolecules are used in biological processes such as cell division, morphogenesis, or development.

Just four elements—oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen—make up 96% of the human body's mass. But many other elements, such as the various biometals, are also present in small (but vital) amounts.

Biometals are at the heart of many biomolecules. One or two atoms of copper, zinc, iron or manganese are in the most important biological molecules. They act as cofactors, electron donors, at the heart of key biological molecules.

Types of biomolecules

A huge range of biomolecules exist, including:

• Small molecules:
  • Lipids, polysaccharides, glycolipids, sterols, glycerolipids
  • Vitamins
  • Hormones, neurotransmitters
  • Metabolites
• Monomers, oligomers and polymers:

Biomonomers	Bio-oligomers	Biopolymers	Covalent bond name between monomers
Amino acids	Oligopeptides	Polypeptides, proteins (hemoglobin...)	Peptide bond
Monosaccharides	Oligosaccharides	Polysaccharides (cellulose...)	Glycosidic bond
Nucleotides	Oligonucleotides	Polynucleotides, nucleic acids (DNA, RNA)	Phosphodiester bond

Biomolecule Media

• 

  Stereo 3D image of a group I intron ribozyme (PDB file 1Y0Q); gray lines show base pairs; ribbon arrows show double-helix regions, blue to red from 5' to 3'{{{1}}} end; white ribbon is an RNA product.