biomolekyl

Biomolekyl is a broad term used to describe any molecule produced by living organisms that participates in biological processes. The English equivalent is biomolecule. Most biomolekyler are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, and often oxygen and nitrogen, with phosphorus or sulfur present in many cases.

Major classes include nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), proteins, carbohydrates (polysaccharides), and lipids. In addition, cells rely on a wide range of small molecule biomolecules such as vitamins, hormones, cofactors, pigments, and metabolic intermediates. Macromolecules—proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids—form the structural and functional framework of cells, while small biomolecules participate in energy transfer, signaling, and catalysis.

Biomolecules are typically assembled from smaller units (monomers) through polymerization: nucleic acids from nucleotides, proteins from amino acids, and polysaccharides from monosaccharides. Lipids do not form true polymers but assemble into diverse structures such as membranes. The properties and behavior of biomolecules depend on their three-dimensional structure, chemical composition, and the cellular environment.

Biomolecules are central to life: they store and transmit genetic information, catalyze biochemical reactions, provide energy and structure, and mediate signaling and regulation. The study of biomolecules—biochemistry and molecular biology—uses techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, sequencing, and structural methods (X-ray crystallography, NMR) to reveal their properties and mechanisms.