Home > Macromolecule

The term "macromolecule" is sometimes used to refer to aggregates of two or more macromolecules held together by intermolecular forces rather than by chemical bonds. This usage is common in particular when the individual macromolecules involved aggregate or "assemble" spontaneously and rarely exist in isolation. Such an aggregate is more properly called a macromolecular complex. In such a context, individual macromolecules are often referred to as subunits (see e.g. protein subunit).

Substances that are composed of macromolecules often have unusual physical properties. The properties of liquid crystalLiquid crystals are a class of molecules that, under some conditions, inhabit a phase in which they exhibit isotropic, fluid-like behavior that is, with little long-range ordering but which under other conditions inhabit one or more phases with significans and such elastomerAn elastomer is a material resembling rubber, characterized by having the ability to resume its shape after being greatly deformed. They are natural or synthetic polymers. Their primary uses are for seals, adhesives and molded flexible parts. Elastomers as as rubberThis article is about the material rubber, for other uses see Rubber (disambiguation Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer which occurs as a milky emulsion (known as latex) in the sap of a number of plants but can also be produced synthetically. The ma are examples. Although too small to see, individual pieces of DNA in solution can be broken in two simply by suctioning the solution through an ordinary straw. This is not true of smaller molecules. The 1964 edition of Linus PaulingOsaka University in 1955. Linus Carl Pauling ( February 28, 1901 August 19, 1994) was an American physical chemist. Pauling was one of the first quantum chemists, and in 1954 was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work describing the nature of c's College Chemistry asserted that DNA in nature is never longer than about 5000 base pairIn genetics, two nucleotides on opposite complementary DNA or RNA strands that are connected via hydrogen bonds are called a base pair (often abbreviated bp). As DNA is usually double-stranded, the number of base pairs in the dsDNA strand equals the numbes. This is because biochemists were inadvertently and with perfect consistency breaking their samples into pieces. In fact, the DNA of chromosome2) Centromere. The point where the two chromatids touch, and where the microtubules attach. 3) Short arm. 4) Long arm. A chromosome is, minimally, a very long, continuous piece of DNA, which contains many genes, regulatory elements and other intervening ns can be tens of millions of base pairs long.

Another common macromolecular property that does not characterize smaller molecules is the need for assistance in dissolving into solution. Many require saltFor other meanings of the word salt see salt (disambiguation In chemistry, a salt is a composed of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, so that the product is neutral and without a net charge. They are typically the product of a chemis or particular ions to dissolve in water. Proteins will denature if the solute concentration of their solution is too high or too low.