Carbohydrates function as structural components in all of the following except __________.

Carbohydrates primarily serve as structural components in various biological macromolecules, playing a crucial role in cell structure and function.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and do not serve as structural components for carbohydrates. While certain carbohydrates can be found in conjunction with proteins in glycoproteins or in the structure of cell walls (like cellulose in plants), amino acids themselves do not have a structural relationship with carbohydrates. Therefore, carbohydrates do not serve a structural role in amino acids.

Proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids can all incorporate carbohydrates in structural forms, such as glycosylation in proteins or the sugar-phosphate backbone in nucleic acids. This incorporation is vital in creating complex structures necessary for biological function. Hence, carbohydrates do not function structurally in the context of amino acids, making the other options aligned with the structural roles of carbohydrates in biology.