Exam 5 Flashcards
Carbohydrates
Named so because many have formula Cn(H2O)n
Produced from CO2 and H2O via photosynthesis in plants
Range from as small as glyceraldehyde (90 g/mol) to as large as amylopectin (200mil g/mol)
Carbohydrate functions
–energy source and energy storage
–structural component of cell walls and exoskeletons
–informational molecules in cell-cell signaling
Basic nomenclature of carbs:
number of carbon atoms in the carbohydrate + “-ose”
All carbohydrates initially had a carbonyl functional group.
–aldehydes = aldose
–ketones = ketose
EG: aldotriose
Stereoisomers
Isomers that differ in the orientation of their atoms in space
Enantiomers
–Stereoisomers that are nonsuperimposable mirror images
–Same physical properties
Isomers
Molecules that have the same numbers of the same kinds of atoms and hence the same formula but differ in chemical and physical properties
D and L Conformations
–D and L sugar conformations are enantiomers based on the final hydroxy group position
–D: right side
–L: Left side
–Most hexoses in living organisms are D stereoisomers
Diastereomers
stereoisomers that are not mirror images
different physical properties
Epimers
–stereoisomers that differ at only one chiral center
–they are not enantiomers (mirror image)
–they are diastereomers with different physical properties
Reactivity of Carbohydrates: Hemiacetals
-Aldehyde carbons are electrophilic.
-Alcohol oxygen atom is nucleophilic.
-When aldehydes are attacked by alcohols, a hemiacetal forms (the double bonded oxygen is now -OH and -OR joins the original aldehyde carbon)
They form the basis of cyclization of sugars
Reactivity of Carbohydrates: Hemiketals
-Ketone carbons are electrophilic.
-Alcohol oxygen atom is nucleophilic.
-When ketones are attacked by alcohols, a hemiketal forms (the double bonded oxygen is now -OH and -OR joins the original ketone carbon)
They form the basis of cyclization of sugars
Cyclization of Monosaccharides
The nucleophilic alcohol attacks the electrophilic carbonyl carbon, allowing formation of a hemiacetal.
A ring forms.
The carbonyl carbon is reduced to an alcohol and that alcohol is variable/transient
anomeric carbon
The former carbonyl carbon that becomes a new chiral center
The new hydroxyl group either makes the anomer alpha or beta
The ring may be cis or trans as well
pyranoses
Six-membered oxygen-containing rings after the pyran ring structure
favor “chair” conformations
Multiple “chair” conformations are possible but require energy for interconversion (~46 kJ/mole)
furanoses
Five-membered oxygen-containing rings after the furan ring structure
Reducing Sugars
These sugars have a free anomeric carbon, typically on aldehydes with the H+
Reducing sugar tests
Aldehyde can reduce Cu2+ to Cu+ (Fehling’s test).
Aldehyde can reduce Ag+ to Ag0 (Tollens’ test).
It allows detection of reducing sugars, such as glucose.
Colorimetric Glucose Analysis
–The enzyme glucose oxidase catalyzes the conversion of glucose to glucono-delta-lactone and hydrogen peroxide.
–Hydrogen peroxide oxidizes organic molecules into highly colored compounds.
–Concentrations of such compounds is measured colorimetrically.
The Glycosidic Bonds (Nonreducing)
Two sugar molecules can be also joined between two anomeric carbons.
The product has two acetal groups and no hemiacetals.
There are no reducing ends; this is a nonreducing sugar.
The Glycosidic Bond (Reducing)
–Two sugar molecules can be joined between an anomeric carbon (nonreducing) and a hydroxyl carbon
–The glycosidic bond (an acetal) between monomers is more stable and less reactive than the hemiacetal (reducing) at the second monomer.
Disacharides can be named by the organization and linkage or a common name.
heteropolysaccharides
(multiple monomer units)
Four Types of Polysaccharides
homopolysaccharides
heteropolysaccharides
linear
branched
homopolysaccharides
(one monomer unit)
linear polysaccharides
(one type of glycosidic bond)
branched polysaccharides
(multiple types of glycosidic bonds)
Polysaccharide standard weight
Polysaccharides do not have a defined molecular weight.
Polysaccharides are often in a state of flux; monomer units are added and removed as needed by the organism.
Glycogen
Branched homopolymers of glucose
Glucose monomers form (a1 - 4) linked chains.
There are branch points with (a1 - 6) linkers every 8–12 residues.
It functions as the main storage polysaccharide in animals.
Starch
mixture of two homopolysaccharides of glucose.
Amylose is an unbranched polymer of (a1 - 4) linked residues.
Amylopectin is branched like glycogen, but the branch points with (a1 - 6) linkers occur every 24–30 residues.
main storage polysaccharide in plants.
Metabolism of Glycogen and Starch
Insoluble due to their high molecular weight and often form granules in cells.
Granules contain enzymes that synthesize and degrade these polymers.
Glycogen and amylopectin have one reducing end but many nonreducing ends.
Enzymatic processing occurs simultaneously in many nonreducing ends.
Cellulose
linear homopolysaccharide of glucose.
Glucose monomers form (B1 - 4) linked chains.
Hydrogen bonds form between adjacent monomers and there are additional H-bonds between chains.
Structure is now tough and water insoluble.
It is the most abundant polysaccharide in nature. Cotton is nearly pure fibrous cellulose.