What polymers are found commonly in cells? Additionally, what monomers make up those polymers?
Polymers commonly found in cells are made up of various monomers. Some of the polymers found in cells include nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates.
Nucleic acids, specifically DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), are essential for storing and transmitting genetic information. Nucleotides are the monomers that make up nucleic acids. Nucleotides consist of three components: a sugar molecule (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine in DNA, and adenine, uracil, cytosine, guanine in RNA).
Proteins are involved in various cellular functions and play vital roles in the structure, regulation, and signaling within cells. Amino acids are the monomers that make up proteins. There are 20 different amino acids commonly found in proteins, each with a unique side chain (R-group) attached to a central carbon atom. The sequence of amino acids determines a protein's structure and function.
Carbohydrates serve as a primary source of energy and are also involved in cell signaling and structural support. Monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose, are the monomers that make up carbohydrates. Monosaccharides can join together through glycosidic linkages to form disaccharides (e.g., sucrose, lactose) or polysaccharides (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose).
To recap, the polymers commonly found in cells are nucleic acids (made up of nucleotides), proteins (made up of amino acids), and carbohydrates (made up of monosaccharides).