Carbohydrates: Structure and Function

Carbohydrates: Structure and Function

• Carbohydrates are vital energy sources and provide structural support within cells.
• Four Primary Functions:
  • Providing energy
  • Storing energy
  • Building macromolecules
  • Sparing protein and fat for other uses
• Classification: Monosaccharides, Oligosaccharides, and Polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides

• Simple sugars (e.g., glucose, galactose, fructose)
• Typically 3-7 carbon atoms
• End in "-ose"
• Linked by glycosidic bonds formed via dehydration reactions to create disaccharides and polysaccharides.

Oligosaccharides

• Short chains of monosaccharides (4-10 units)
• Often used as a general term for disaccharides
• Types include:
  • Disaccharides (2 monosaccharides)
  • Trisaccharides (3 monosaccharides)
  • Tetrasaccharides (4 monosaccharides)
  • Pentasaccharides (5 monosaccharides)

Disaccharides

• Composed of two monosaccharides.
• Common examples: maltose, lactose, trehalose, sucrose.
• Formation occurs through dehydration reactions (condensation) - a water molecule is removed to create a covalent glycosidic bond.

Polysaccharides

• Long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.
• High molecular weights (up to 100,000 daltons).
• Important examples: starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin.

Starch

• Plant storage form of sugar
• Mixture of amylose (unbranched) and amylopectin (highly branched)

Glycogen

• Animal storage form of sugar
• Highly branched structure

Cellulose

• Structural component in plants
• Unbranched structure
• Important for providing structural support.

Other Carbohydrate Information

• Carbohydrates' carbon skeletons are foundational to many organic molecules.
• Carbohydrates are essential in numerous industries (e.g., sugar, starch, paper, textiles, food processing).
• Examples of carbohydrates in nucleic acids include ribose and deoxyribose.
• The basic structure of carbohydrates involves carbon-carbon backbones with C=O and OH functional groups, creating C-O-C linkages.
• Glycogen is typically found in the liver and muscles.

This quiz covers the critical aspects of carbohydrates, including their structure, functions, and classifications. Explore monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and disaccharides, and learn how these organic compounds support life by providing energy and structural integrity. Test your understanding of the vital roles carbohydrates play in living organisms.