How do organisms use different types of carbon compounds

Among organisms, carbon compounds exist in four major categories: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates are required as sources of energy. Proteins are the major molecules from which organisms are built. Lipids provide energy to produce hormones. Nucleic acids consist of deoxyribonucleic and ribonucleic acids, which play a key role in protein synthesis.