Introduction to Carbohydrates Flashcards
what happens when carbohydrates are oxidised in living cells?
produce energy, carbon dioxide and water
what are the different types of carbohydrate?
monosaccharides, disaccharides,, polysaccharides
what are monosaccharides?
simplest carbohydrate
what are disaccharides?
consist of 2 monosaccharides
what are polysaccharides?
contain many monosaccharides
monosaccharides consist of…
3-6 carbons, a carbonyl group(aldehyde/ketone), several hydroxyl groups
what are aldoses?
monosaccharides with an aldehyde group, many hydroxyl groups eg triose, tetrose, pentose
what are ketoses?
monosaccharides with a ketone group, many hydroxyl groups eg ketohexose (fructose)
what is a fischer projection?
used to represent carbohydrates, places the most oxidised at the top eg carbonyl group, shows chiral carbons as the intersection of vertical and horizontal lines
how to determine the L or D isomer…
in Fischer projection, the hydroxyl group on the chiral carbon furthest from the carbonyl group determines the L or D isomer, if on left it is L if on right it is D (sugars usually D, amino acids usually L) and causes polarised light rotation
where is D-glucose found?
honey and fruits
what is D-glucose?
aldohexose C6H12O6, known as blood sugar in the body, it is the monosaccharide of starch, cellulose, glycogen
what is the difference between D-glucose and D-galactose?
the hydroxyl group on the 4th carbon is on different sides, right for glucose, left for galactose - these are epimers (one pair of stereoisomers)
how does D-galactose convert to D-glucose?
enzymes move the hydroxyl group from the left to right side of the carbon
what is galactosemia?
lack of enzymes required for galactose metabolism
effects of galactosemia…
galactose intermediates (toxic) accumulates and there is a toxic effect on liver, brain, kidney, eyes
how can galactosemia be detected and controlled?
screened using the heel prick test on newborns and controlled using a low galactose diet
what are cyclic structures?
the prevalent form of monosaccharides with 5/6 carbon atoms
how do cyclic structures form?
when the hydroxyl group on C5 reacts with the aldehyde or ketone group (condensation)
the cyclic structure for glucose…
- number carbon chain and obtain linear open chain 2. bond C5 -O- to C1 3. place C6 (long chain) above ring 4. write -OH groups for C2 and C4 below the ring 5. write -OH for C3 above the ring 6. write new -OH on C1 in either alpha/beta form
what happens when alpha and beta forms are placed in solution?
they convert into each other and at any time only a small amount of open chain forms as they are constantly going between forms
what is D-glyceraldehyde?
simplest sugar
what is D-glucose?
most important in diet
what is D-fructose?
sweetest sugar