Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate Molecules

• Carbohydrates are composed of simple sugars, or saccharides, which are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones.

Carbohydrate Formula

• The empirical formula of carbohydrates is CH2O, indicating a 1:1:1 ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Carbohydrate Building Blocks

• Monosaccharides serve as the building blocks of large carbohydrate polymers.

Aldose Classification

• Aldoses are monosaccharides that contain an aldehyde group.

Monosaccharide Classification

• Monosaccharides can be classified as aldoses or ketoses, depending on the presence of an aldehyde or ketone group.

Pentose Characteristics

• Pentoses are a type of monosaccharide that contains five carbon atoms.

Polysaccharide Classification

• Homopolysaccharides are composed of a single type of monosaccharide, while heteropolysaccharides are composed of multiple types of monosaccharides.

Glycogen Storage

• Glycogen, a complex carbohydrate, is primarily stored in the liver and muscles.

Hyaluronic Acid Function

• Hyaluronic acid, a polysaccharide, plays a crucial role in maintaining skin hydration and facilitating tissue repair.

Glycolysis Phases

• ATP and NADH are produced during the payoff phase of glycolysis.

Glycogenolysis Regulation

• The hormone glucagon activates glycogenolysis in the liver during fasting conditions, breaking down glycogen into glucose.

Gluconeogenesis Location

• Gluconeogenesis, the process of generating glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, mainly occurs in the liver and kidneys.

Test your knowledge about the characteristics, structure, and metabolism of carbohydrates. Learn about the digestion, absorption, synthesis, and degradation of glucose and glycogen, as well as the concepts of the Cori cycle and glucose-alanine cycle.