Carbohydrates 1 Flashcards
What are the functions of carbohydrates?
Highly oxidisable - H
Stores potential energy eg starch/glycogen
Cell-cell communication eg blood group/immunology
Structure and protection
3 Monosaccharides
Glucose
Galactose
fructose
Name some properties of monosaccharides
6 carbon monomers
Common dietary carbohydrates
What are disaccharides?
Monomers linked by glycosidic bonds
How does a glycosidic bond form?
OH of one reacts with ANOMERIC carbon
What is an anomeric carbon?
Only residue that can be oxidised - carbon 1
Stabilises structure and is reducing end
Maltose
Break down product of starch
Lactose
Main sugar in milk
Sucrose
25% dietary protein and common sugar found in plants
Which disaccharide is not a reducing sugar?
Sucrose
How are Polysaccharides distinguished
- length of chain
- type of bonds
- branching
- reoccurring monosaccharide units
Homopolysaccharide
Single monomer species
Heteropolysaccharide
2 or more monomeric species
Name the 2 types of glucose monomer
Amylose and amylopectin
Name some differences between amylose and amylopectin
75-80% is amylopectin
Amylopectin is branched with alpha 1-6
What is glycogen
Polymer of glucose alpha 1-4
alpha 1-6 branch every 8-12 residues
90% in liver and skeletal muscle
What does glycogenin do?
In the middle of structure
Enzyme converts glucose ==> glycogen 1
Why store glucose in polymers?
Compactness
Non reducing ends of amylose/amylopectin speeds up synthesis and degradation
Glycosaminoglycans
Mucous and synovial fluid around joints
Repeating hexuranic acid and amino sugar
Proteoglycans
GAGs and protein
Macromolecule found in ECM and surface of cells
Make part of connective tissue
Mucopolysaccharides
Genetic disorder => absent enzymes that breakdown GAGs so build up and cause dementia and blood problems
