Carbohydrates Flashcards
What is the only sugar that is not a reducing sugar?
sucrose
What is dextran?
It is a polysaccharide of glucose and is associated with sticky plaque along with another polysaccharide called “levans”
How is dextran made?
its a polysaccharide of glucose, BUT it is made from sucrose
How are dextrans “sticky”?
it forms the glycocalyx capsule on S. mutans
How do you make levans?
You chop up sucrose and use the fructose to make levans “the glucose is used to make dextrans”
What are glycosaminoglycans?
a repeating disaccharide
Are glycosaminoglycans positive or negative?
They are highly negative
What quality does a GAG give CT?
Squishy texture because they can attract water
What is Chondroitin sulfate?
a GAG, its the most abundant gag in ECM
Where is chondroitin sulfate found the most in?
cartilage, tendons and ligaments
what makes Hyaluronic acid unique?
it is a GAG that contains NO sulfur, the only other GAG with no sulfur is heparin.
What is Heparin?
A GAG that prevents formation of thrombin
What is unique about heparin?
it is the only INTRAcellular GAG
