Polysaccharides - Structure and function is determined by the position of glycosidic linkages within the macromolecule, and the monomers that are present. Polysaccharides function as a means of sugar storage, or are used as building material. A storage polysaccharide would be starch, which can be found in foods like potatoes, bread, and pasta. A structural polysaccharide would be cellulose, which is fiber. Fiber can be found in many vegetables, it helps plant cells keep their rigid shape.
Proteins - There are four structures proteins can form: Primary structure is the sequence of amino acids in DNA, secondary structure forms hydrogen bonds, tertiary deals with hydrophobic interactions, and quaternary forms a transport protein like hemoglobin. There is a vast diversity of protein structures, so proteins have various functions. Protein functions include storage, transportation, identification, communication, structural support, defense against foreign substances, and more. Membrane proteins [cellular adhesion molecules] can determine how a cell will interact with others. This is what helps white blood cells move to an injury site within the body.
Nucleic Acids - There are two types of nucleic acids; deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA], and ribonucleic acid [RNA]. DNA provides instructions for its own replication. It’s like a blueprint for proteins that need to be made to create an organism. DNA is a double stranded double helix, and RNA is a single strand. DNA holds the information, while RNA actually carries out the instructions.
If you think about it, all of this stuff is just a bunch of tiny building blocks. A bunch of very tiny legos.
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