Carbohydrates

Question 1

Classification

Answer 1

1. Size of base carbon chain
2. Number of sugar units
3. Location of C=O
4. Stereochemistry

Question 2

Functions

Answer 2

1. Energy Metabolism
2. Structural
3. Precursors of DNA & RNA
4. Cells surface marker

Question 3

Functions - Energy metabolism

Answer 3

a. Fuel - glucose and its derivates produce energy for immediate use
b. Storage - starch is stored by plants while glycogen is stored by animals in the liver and muscles

Question 4

Functions - Structural

Answer 4

a. Provides scaffolding for bacterial and plant cell walls
b. Exoskeleton shells for arthropods
c. Lubricative coating to cells

Question 5

Functions - Precursors of DNA & RNA

Answer 5

a. Serves a chemical structural role

b. Polar sites for the catalytic processes of RNA

Question 6

Functions - Cell surface marker

Answer 6

a. Immune protection/recognition
b. Cell-cell recognition
c. Host-pathogen interaction

Question 7

Structure of common carbohydrates

Answer 7

1. Chains of C
2. Contains an aldehyde or ketone
3. Contains a hydroxyl group

Question 8

Physical characteristics

Answer 8

1. Hydrogen bonding with OH groups
2. High melting and boiling points
3. Soluble in water
4. Insoluble in non-polar solvents
5. Natural occurring optical isomers are D-sugars
6. Most monosaccharides and disaccharides are sweet tasting
7. Most monosaccharides are chiral
8. Exists in cyclic structure in aqueous solutions

Question 9

Chemical characteristics

Answer 9

1. Have at least 1 or often 2 or more asymmetric centers.
2. Able to exist in either linear or ring structures
3. Capacity to form polymers via glycosidic bonds
4. Potential to form multiple hydrogen bonds with water or other molecules in their environments

Question 10

Reactions

Answer 10

1. Oxidation-Reduction
2. Esterification
3. Amino derivates
4. Glycoside formation