What biomolecules are not nutrients?
1 Answer
Nucleic acids are not considered nutrients.
There are thousands of different types of molecules in a cell, but there are only four major classes of biomolecules. These are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
Carbohydrates are compounds such as sugars and starches. They are important nutrients, since the cells use them as a source of energy.
Proteins make up the majority of biomolecules present in a cell. They are responsible for many enzymatic functions in the cell and play an important structural role. They can also serve as a fuel source. Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body.
Lipids are triglycerides of long-chain fatty acids. Lipids are the major component of cell membranes. These molecules hold an incredible amount of energy, so they act as energy storage molecules.
Nucleic Acids. Your cells contain two types of nucleic acids, ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid. They differ from other nutrients in that they are not a source of energy in your diet. Their only role is to direct the synthesis of new protein molecules.
Nucleic acids do not provide the bulk energy for an organism, so they are not nutrients.
