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.
What is cellulose made from?
Beta glucose.
How does celluoloses structure differ from other polysaccarides?
-Every alternitive glucose flips 180 degrees and the hydroxyl groups bond inbetween.
What structure does cellulsoe have?
Microfibrical structure.
What 2 bonds does cellulose have?
-Glycosidic bonds
-Hydrogen bonds
Why does the extra hydrogen bonds do to cellulose?
-Gives the cell wall more stability so it is difficult to digest and break down as it is a structural material.
What are the 2 componets of a cell wall?
-Hemicellulose and pectins.
Why is there a space between the fibrics in cellulose?
-Alows water and mineral ions to pass through but in some cases they are blocked by suberin to make it waterproof.
