Carbohydrates - 3.3 - (4) Flashcards
Page 48 & 49
The functionally equivalent energy storage molecule to starch but in animals and fungi is called what?
glycogen
What does glycogen form?
more branches than amylopectin
What does it mean if glycogen can form more branches than amylopectin?
that it is more compact and less space is needed for it to be stored
Why is it important for glycogen to be compact and less space is required for it to be stored?
as animals are mobile, unlike plants
What makes these polysaccharides very compact?
the coiling or branching of these polysaccharides - which is ideal for storage
What can the branching also mean?
there are many accessible ends where glucose molecules can be added or removed
Through branching, what can this speed up the processes of?
storing or releasing glucose molecules required by the cell
What are the key properties of amylopectin and glycogen?
they are insoluble, branched and compact
What do these key properties of amylopectin and glycogen suggest?
that they are ideally suited to the storage roles that they carry out
What is glucose stored as in plants, animals and fungi?
plants - starch
animals and fungi - glycogen
until it is needed for respiration
What is respiration?
it is the process in which biochemical energy in these stored nutrients is converted into a useable energy source for the cell
To release glucose for respiration, what does starch or glycogen have to undergo?
hydrolysis reactions
What do hydrolysis reactions require?
the addition of water molecules
What are hydrolysis reactions catalysed by?
enzymes
What are hydrolysis reactions the reverse of?
the condensation reactions that form glycosidic bonds
