Carbohydrates Overview and Types

Carbohydrate Overview

• Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a 1:2:1 ratio.
• Carbohydrates are a vital energy source for cellular metabolism, stored as glycogen, and are integral components of DNA and RNA.
• They account for 2-3% of total body mass.

Carbohydrate Types

• Monosaccharides: Simple sugars, containing 3-7 carbon atoms. Examples include glucose, fructose, galactose, ribose, and deoxyribose.
• Disaccharides: Formed by combining two monosaccharides through dehydration synthesis. Examples include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
• Polysaccharides: Formed from tens to hundreds of monosaccharides linked via dehydration synthesis. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Hydrolysis

• A chemical reaction that breaks down complex molecules into simpler units.
• Involves the addition of a water molecule to split bonds.
• An example is the breakdown of sucrose (a disaccharide) into glucose and fructose.

Dehydration Synthesis

• A chemical reaction that combines smaller molecules to form a larger one.
• Involves removing a water molecule to create a new bond.
• An example is the formation of a disaccharide.

Monosaccharide Structures

• Monosaccharides have varying numbers of carbon atoms (3-7), categorizing them as trioses, tetroses, pentoses, hexoses, or heptoses.

Functions of Carbohydrates

• Energy Source: ATP production from glucose oxidation.
• Energy Storage: Glycogen in animals, starch in plants.
• Structural Component: Part of DNA and RNA.
• Receptors: Can act as receptors on cell surfaces to recognize other molecules.

Fate of Glucose

• ATP Production: Glucose is oxidized to produce ATP.
• Amino Acid Synthesis: Glucose is used in the formation of amino acids.
• Glycogen Synthesis: Glucose is stored as glycogen in liver and muscle cells.
• Triglyceride Synthesis: Excess glucose is converted to glycerol and fatty acids to synthesize triglycerides, stored in adipose tissue.

This quiz provides an overview of carbohydrates, including their composition and importance as an energy source. It covers various types of carbohydrates, such as monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides, as well as reactions like hydrolysis. Test your understanding of these essential biological molecules!