Primary & Secondary Metabolites + Biomacromolecules

🍃 Primary Metabolites

• Found in all living organisms (animals, plants, microbes).
• Have clear roles in normal body functions (like amino acids and sugars).
• Example categories from Figure 9.1: Amino acids, sugars, nucleotides, etc. ✅

🌿 Secondary Metabolites

• Found only in plants, fungi, and microbes—not in animals.
• Their exact roles in host organisms aren’t fully understood yet.
• Many are super useful for humans! 🎉 Examples:
  • Rubber, drugs (like morphine), spices, scents, pigments.
  • Some protect plants in nature (ecological role).

Table 9.3: Cool Examples of Secondary Metabolites

🧬 Biomacromolecules

• Living things have two types of biomolecules:

1. Micromolecules (small!)

• Found in the acid soluble pool.
• Molecular weight: 18–800 daltons (Da).
• Examples: Sugars, amino acids (tiny building blocks). 🔬

2. Macromolecules (huge!)

• Found in the acid insoluble fraction.
• Molecular weight: >10,000 Da (except lipids!).
• Four types:
  • Proteins
  • Nucleic acids
  • Polysaccharides
  • Lipids
• Wait—lipids are weird! 🤔
  • Their weight is <800 Da (should be micromolecules)…
  • But they’re in the macromolecule fraction because they insoluble in acid!

⭐ NEET Must-Knows

1. Primary vs. Secondary Metabolites: Primary = in all organisms, known functions. Secondary = only in plants/fungi/microbes, human uses (drugs, rubber).
2. Secondary Metabolite Examples: Alkaloids (morphine), Terpenoides (essential oils), Toxins (ricin)—memorize Table 9.3! 💊
3. Macromolecules: 4 types—proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, lipids. Lipids are the exception (low MW but acid-insoluble).
4. Molecular Weights: Micromolecules = 18–800 Da. Macromolecules = >10,000 Da (mostly).
5. Lipid Paradox: Why are they in the acid-insoluble fraction? Because of their solubility, not size! 🧪