Natural Products: A Minefield of Biomaterials

Table 3

Biopolymers found in nature and their functions [67].

Polymer	Monomer	Function(s)
Nuclei acids (DNA and RNA)	Nucleotides	Carriers of genetic information, universally recognized in all organisms
Proteins	α-aminoacids	Biological catalysis (enzymes), growth factors, receptors, structural materials (wool, leather, silk, hair, and connective tissue); hormones (insulin); toxins; antibodies
Polysaccharides (Carbohydrates)	Sugars	Structural materials in plants and some higher organisms (cellulose and chitin); energy storage materials (starch and glycogen); molecular recognition (blood types); bacterial secretions
Polyhydroxylalkanates	Fatty acids	Microbial energy reserve materials
Polyphenols	Phenols	Structural materials in plants (lignin); soil structure (peat and humics); plant defense mechanisms (tannins)
Polyphosphates	Phosphates	Inorganic energy storage materials
Polysulfates	Sulfates	Inorganic energy storage materials