Molecular Biology and BioChem 2

Question 1

Functions of Polysaccharides

Answer 1

+ Storage Molecules

+Structural Elements

• Cell Walls
• Extracellular Matrices
• Connective Tissue
• Lubrication of Skeletal Joints

+ Linked to proteins and Lipids

• Cell-to-cell recognition
• Cell adhesion

Question 2

What are Epimers?

Answer 2

Epimers are isomers which only differ at one chiral center

Question 3

Give 3 examples of Monosaccharides and their typical functions

Answer 3

Glucose, galactose, ribose –energy storage or DNA/RNA backbone

Question 4

Give 3 examples of Disaccharides and their typical functions

Answer 4

Lactose, sucrose, maltose - energy storage

Question 5

Give 3 examples of Polysaccharides and their typical functions

Answer 5

Starch, cellulose, chitin, glycogen, peptidoglycan - cell walls, extracellular matrix, cell-cell recognition,
cell adhesion

Question 6

What are the roles of carbohydrates in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

Answer 6

Energy storage – both, e.g. glycogen, starch
Structural – both, e.g. cellulose, chitin, peptidoglycan
Cell-cell recognition – both, e.g. antigens (sugar and protein)
Cell-cell adhesion – both

Question 7

Describe the timeline of starvation

Answer 7

Day 0 - Last Meal
6h - Day 1 - Liver glycogen is exhausted
Glucose comes from;
Glycerol from TAG