Carbohydrates- polyscaccarides Flashcards
What is a polysaccaride?
More than two sugars.
What is a polymer?
A long chain of monomers with many condensation reactions happening and glycosidic bonds forming.
What is an example of a polysaccaride?
-Starch
-Glycogen
-Cellulose
Where is starch found?
-In food animals eat and in plants (their storage molocule).
What is starch made up of?
-Straight chained alpha amylose.
-Branched chain amylopeptin.
What is amylopeptin made up of?
Alpha glucose with 1-4 glycosidic bonds
What makes amylopeptin chained?
It has one glycosidic bond every 24 to 30 units at 1-6 carbons
Why is amylopeptin a branched molocule?
-The compound can be easily hydrolysed to release glucose monomers so it is easily accessible for plants.
What happens to amylose in starch?
-The straight chain becomes twisted/ has a helical structure.
Why is a helical strcuture of amylose good in starch?
-Becomes a very compact molocule so it is very good for storage in a plant.
-Makes it insoluable so the starch is an ideal energy store- water cannot diffuse out the plant easily.
What is glycogen used for?
-Storage molocule in animals.
-Broken back down into glucose for respiration when we need it.
What is glycogen made from?
Alpha glucose.
How does glycogen get its highly branched structure?
-The linked alpha glucoses are shorter (still joined by 1 carbon and 4 carbon)
What structure does glycogen have?
Branched.
Why is a branched structure good in glycogen?
–Allows for a fast breaking down process during respiration as the enzymes have more ends to start the process of hydrolysis from.
