Biological Molecules - Carbohydrates Flashcards
Define “polymer”
Long molecule made up from many smaller molecules
Define “monomer”
Small molecules that make up polymers
What are the monomers in carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides e.g glucose
What are the polymers in carbohydrates?
Polysaccharides
What are the monomers in proteins?
Amino acids
What are the polymers in proteins?
Proteins/polypeptides
What are the monomers in fats?
Triglycerides
What are the monomers of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides
What are the polymers of nucleic acids?
DNA/RNA
What are carbohydrates?
Large complex molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharides
List 3 disaccharides
- Maltose
- Lactose
- Sucrose
What 2 monosaccharides is maltose made up of?
- Alpha glucose
- Alpha glucose
What 2 monosaccharides is sucrose made up of?
- Alpha glucose
- Fructose
What 2 monosaccharides is lactose made up of?
- Beta glucose
- Galactose
What bonds are in maltose?
1,4 glycosidic bonds
What bonds are in sucrose?
1,2 glycosidic bonds
What bonds are in lactose?
1,4 glycosidic bonds
Are disaccharides soluble?
Yes, but not as soluble as monosaccharides
What do the chemical bonds of disaccharides do compared to monosaccharides?
They store more energy
Give the formula for glucose?
C6H12C6
What two forms does glucose exist in?
- Alpha glucose
- Beta glucose
What type of sugar is glucose?
A hexose sugar
Draw alpha glucose
See notes
Define “condensation”
A reaction of two molecules joining together to form a large molecule and a water molecule
Define “glycosidic bond”
Every bond between molecules in carbohydrates, joining monosaccharides into polysaccharides
Define “hydrolysis”
When molecules split apart using a molecule of water
Give an example of hydrolysis
Polysaccharides splitting into monosaccharides
Define “polysaccharide”
A polymer of many monosaccharides joined together through condensation reactions for storage
Give the two main polysaccharides
- Starch
- Glycogen
What are the two types of starch?
- Two polysaccharides of alpha glucose
- Amylose
- Amylopectin
What is the purpose of starch?
Glucose/energy storage in plants for respiration
What is the purpose of glycogen?
Glucose/energy storage in animals for respiration
What monomers make up both types of starch?
Alpha glucose
What monomer makes up glycogen?
Alpha glucose
What type of bonds make up amylose?
1,4 glycosidic bonds
What type of bonds make up amylopectin?
1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
What type of bonds make up glycogen?
1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
What kind of structure does amylose have and how does it link to its function?
- Unbranched chains
- Angles of the glycosidic bonds give it a coiled structure, like a cylinder
- Makes it more compact for storage of glucose
What kind of structure does amylopectin have and how does it link to its function?
- Branched chains
- Increases its surface area
- More accessible to enzymes
- Hydrolysed into glucose more quickly
What kind of structure does glycogen have compared to amylopectin and how does it link to its function?
- More branched chains
- Bigger surface area
- Even more accessible to enzymes
- Faster hydrolysis
Why does glycogen need to be hydrolysed more quickly than amylopectin?
Animals move so respire far more
What are both starch and glycogen and why?
Insoluble - doesn’t cause cells to swell by osmosis
List the properties of glycogen that adapt it to its function.
- Very branched
- Large
- Insoluble
- Compact
How does glycogen being large make it useful for its function?
Can store high amounts of glucose and therefore energy
How does glycogen being compact make it useful for its function?
Good for storage
What is amylose?
A long unbranched chain of alpha glucose
What is amylopectin?
Long branched chain of alpha glucose
