Question

What are the “building blocks” of proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids? How do they play a key role in biophysical modeling on the molecular scale? In other words, why do we focus on these building blocks?

Answer 1

Proteins are polymer of amino acid bonded together with the help of peptide bond.

Nucleic acids are polymer of nucleotides and are joined together with the help of phosphodiester bond.

Lipids are polymer of glycerol and fatty acids and they bonded together by ester linkage.

All of the polymers are formed by dehydration synthesis in which molecule(s) of water is lost during the bond formation.

Protein works as a building block of structural components like muscles, organs etc. During any kind of injury, they are used to repair it. Proteins are also one of the most important biological components as they show catalytic properties. all the enzymes are made up of protein except ribozyme. They are also used to make hormones which too regulate some biological functions. So they are very critical in every biological process from metabolism to gene regulation.

Nucleic acids are found majorly in the nucleus as DNA. which is the genetic content that regulates the whole body at the molecular level. They are inherited from parents to their offspring. All the process happening inside the body or will happen is stored as information in the DNA. They are also found in mitochondria.

Like protein, lipids are used in various function throughout the body. They are used as an energy reserve in the form of glycogen, which is used when the body doesn't get enough nutrition. They also provide insulation and protect organs in our body. Our cell membrane and nuclear membranes are made up of lipids(phospholipids) and some organelles like ER.golgi etc are made up of lipids. They're used in cell division, cell signalling and also som hormones are like testosterone etc are made up of lipids.