Carbohydrates 1 Flashcards
What is a carbohydrate?
Sugar and starch molecules
Why are carbohydrates and major energy source?
They are high oxidisable, containing large amounts of high energy H atoms and associated electrons
What are some functions of carbohydrates?
Store potential energy
Structural and protection functions (EM)
Cell to cell communication
How are carbohydrates used to store potential energy?
As glycogen
What are monosaccharides?
Any class of sugar that cannot be hydrolysed to give simpler sugars
What are the 3 important hexoses (6C sugars)?
Glucose
Fructose
Galactose
What are disaccharides?
Formed from monomers that are linked by glycosidic bonds
How do monosaccarides combine to form disaccharides?
Covalent bonds are formed when hydroxyl groups of one monosaccharid reactions with another anomeric carbon of another
What is the anomeric carbon of glucose?
C1 on glucose
What are properties of the anomeric carbon of glucose?
Stabalises the structure and is the only one that can be oxidised
What are different anomers to each other?
Mirror images
What are 3 important disaccarides?
Maltose
Lactose
Succrose
Do we get much maltose in our diet?
No, it is found in starch and beer
Why is maltose termed a reducing sugar?
Anomeric C1 is available for oxidation
What forms maltose?
Two molecules of glucose
What is a reducing sugar?
A sugar that can be oxidised
What is lactose the main sugar of?
Milk
How is lactose formed?
Glycosidic bond between galactose and glucose
Galactose + Glucose ⇔ Lactose
Why is lactose a reducing sugar?
Anomeric carbon in the glucose available for oxidation
Where is succrose commonly found?
Table sugar