Makromolekula

Makromolekula, or macromolecule, is a very large molecule typically formed by polymerization of many smaller units. Most macromolecules are polymers—long chains built from repeating monomer units linked by covalent bonds. The term covers both natural biopolymers and synthetic polymers.

In biology, the major macromolecules are proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides. Proteins are polymers of amino acids that fold into specific three-dimensional structures to perform catalysis, transport, signaling, and structural roles. Nucleic acids, including DNA and RNA, are polymers of nucleotides that store, transmit, and translate genetic information. Polysaccharides are polymers of sugar molecules that provide energy storage and structural support. Lipids are large biomolecules essential to membranes and energy storage but are not polymers built from repeating monomers in the same sense, so they are not always classified as macromolecules alongside biopolymers.

Polymerization can occur by addition or condensation, producing long chains with high molecular weight and varying architectures. The primary structure refers to the linear sequence of monomers; higher-order structures—such as the folding of proteins into secondary and tertiary structures or the double helix of nucleic acids—determine function. Branching, cross-linking, and crystallinity influence physical properties like solubility, strength, and thermal behavior.

Macromolecules are central to life, enabling complex biological functions, and underpin many materials in science and industry, from plastics and fibers to biodegradable polymers and biomedical polymers.