Carbohydrates: Definition and Importance
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Questions and Answers

What is the difference between glucose and fructose?

  • They are both Ketose
  • They are both Aldose
  • They have the same molecular formula but differ in structure (correct)
  • They have different molecular formulas
  • What is the classification of enantiomers based on?

  • The position of the –CH2OH group
  • The position of the keto group
  • The position of the –OH group attached to the carbon atom adjacent to the last –CH2OH (correct)
  • The position of the anomeric carbon
  • What is the characteristic of enantiomers?

  • They have the same molecular formula but differ in structure
  • They are mirror images of each other and superposable
  • They are mirror images of each other and non-superposable (correct)
  • They have different molecular formulas
  • What is the difference between D-glucose and D-mannose?

    <p>They are epimers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the characteristic of epimers?

    <p>They differ in configuration at only one of the chiral centers other than the anomeric carbon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the anomeric carbon?

    <p>The asymmetric carbon atom obtained from the active carbonyl sugar group</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference between α and β glucose?

    <p>The position of the –OH group attached to the anomeric carbon is different</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary fuel for living cells?

    <p>D-glucose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a type of stereoisomer?

    <p>Aldose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following pairs of sugars are C4-epimers?

    <p>D-glucose and D-galactose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Carbohydrates

    • Definition: Carbohydrates are biomolecules consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the ratio Cn(H2O)n, literally a "carbon hydrate".
    • Importance: Carbohydrates constitute about 60% of our diet and have extensive roles in all forms of life, including:
      • Primary source of energy (e.g., glucose)
      • Storage form of energy (e.g., glycogen)
      • Biosynthesis of energy compounds, DNA, RNA, receptors, and vitamins
      • Combining with lipids (glycolipids) or protein (glycoproteins) to form cell membrane structures

    Classification of Carbohydrates

    • Classified according to the number of sugar units:
      • Monosaccharides: 1 sugar unit
      • Disaccharides: 2 sugar units
      • Oligosaccharides: 3-9 sugar units
      • Polysaccharides: ≥10 sugar units
      • Glucoconjugates: carbohydrate part + non-CHO part

    Monosaccharides

    • Definition: Simplest units of carbohydrates that cannot be broken down to smaller molecules by hydrolysis
    • General formula: Cn(H2O)n
    • Classified according to the number of carbon atoms:
      • Trioses: 3 carbon atoms (e.g., glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone)
      • Tetroses: 4 carbon atoms (e.g., D-erythrose, erythrulose)
      • Pentoses: 5 carbon atoms (e.g., D-ribose, deoxyribose, D-ribulose)
      • Hexoses: 6 carbon atoms (e.g., D-glucose, D-mannose, D-galactose, fructose)
      • Heptoses: 7 carbon atoms (e.g., D-sedoheptulose)

    Structure of Monosaccharides

    • Haworth Projection: Aldehyde or ketone reacts with OH group of C4 or C5 to form hemiacetal or hemiketal, creating a new asymmetric carbon called anomeric carbon (C1 or C2)
    • Formation of cyclic ring: Five-membered ring (furanose) or six-membered ring (pyranose)
    • α- and β-sugars: Depending on the arrangement of H and OH groups around carbon atoms

    Asymmetric Carbon Atom (Chiral Carbon)

    • Definition: Carbon atom attached to 4 different groups or atoms
    • Properties: Optical activity and stereoisomerism
    • Optical Activity: Ability to rotate plane polarized light either to the right (dextrorotatory) or to the left (levorotatory)

    Isomerism

    • Definition: Compounds with identical molecular formula but different structures or configurations
    • Number of isomers: 2n, where n is the number of asymmetric carbon atoms
    • Types of isomerism:
      • Structural Isomers (Aldose-Ketose Isomerism)
      • Stereoisomers (Enantiomers, Epimers, and Anomers)

    Stereoisomers

    • Enantiomers: Mirror images of each other, non-superposable, and classified into D and L forms
    • Epimers: Sugar molecules that differ in configuration at only one of the chiral centers other than anomeric carbon
    • Anomers: Isomers obtained from the change of position of hydroxyl attached to the anomeric carbon

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    Learn about the definition, importance, and roles of carbohydrates in our diet and life processes, including energy source, storage, and biosynthesis.

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