macromolecule

Also known as polymer molecule

thumb|Chemical structure of a polypeptide macromolecule

AI overview

A macromolecule is a very large molecule made up of many smaller molecular units linked together in a chain. Macromolecules like proteins are essential to life, as they perform critical functions in living organisms.

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Commons category: Macromolecules

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~10 min read

Article

11 sections

Contents

Synthetic macromolecules
Macromolecules in nature
Linear biopolymers
Structural features
DNA is optimised for encoding information
Proteins are optimised for catalysis
RNA is multifunctional
Branched biopolymers
See also
References
External links

thumb|Chemical structure of a polypeptide macromolecule

A macromolecule is a "molecule of high relative molecular mass, the structure of which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass." Polymers are physical examples of macromolecules. Common macromolecules are biopolymers (RNA and DNA, proteins, and carbohydrates), polyolefins (polyethylene) and polyamides (nylon).