What does hydrolysis mean in the context of macromolecules?

Hydrolysis refers to a chemical process in which water is used to break down complex molecules, specifically macromolecules, into their smaller subunits or monomers. In this context, a macromolecule—such as a protein, carbohydrate, or nucleic acid—is cleaved into its constituent monomers through the addition of water. During hydrolysis, chemical bonds in the macromolecule are broken, resulting in the formation of smaller molecules, which can then be used in various biological processes.

For instance, proteins are broken down into amino acids, polysaccharides are separated into simple sugars, and nucleic acids are degraded into nucleotides through hydrolytic reactions. This process is vital for digestion and metabolism in living organisms, enabling them to utilize nutrients efficiently.

The other options describe processes that are not aligned with the concept of hydrolysis. For example, the formation of polymers from monomers indicates a process of dehydration synthesis rather than hydrolysis.