[06] Carbohydrates and Glycobiology Flashcards
What are carbohydrates?
Organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
What are the main types of carbohydrates?
- Monosaccharides
- Disaccharides
- Polysaccharides
What is a monosaccharide?
The simplest form of carbohydrate, it cannot be further hydrolyzed to smaller carbohydrates.
What is a disaccharide?
A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides.
What is a polysaccharide?
A carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharides.
What is the main function of carbohydrates?
Serving as a source of energy in living organisms.
What are some examples of monosaccharides?
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Galactose
What are some examples of disaccharides?
- Sucrose
- Lactose
- Maltose
What are some examples of polysaccharides?
- Starch
- Glycogen
- Cellulose
Glycobiology - Definition
The study of the structure, function and biology of carbohydrates.
How does glycobiology relate to carbohydrates?
It is the study of complex carbohydrates and their biological roles.
What is a glycoprotein?
Proteins that contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to their polypeptide backbones.
What is a glycolipid?
Lipids with a carbohydrate attached by a glycosidic bond.
What is the role of glycoproteins and glycolipids in cells?
They play key roles in cell-cell interactions, including cell recognition and adhesion.
What is a glycosidic bond?
A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate molecule to another group.
What is the role of carbohydrates in DNA and RNA?
The sugar component of the nucleotides in DNA and RNA is a pentose carbohydrate.
What are proteoglycans?
A type of glycoprotein that is heavily glycosylated, important for the function of the extracellular matrix.
What are lectins?
Proteins that can bind to specific carbohydrate molecules.
What is the importance of lectins in biology?
Lectins play roles in cell-cell interaction, glycoprotein synthesis, and immune response.
How does diabetes relate to carbohydrates?
Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, usually due to insufficient insulin.
