Organic Compounds: Carbohydrates Overview

Organic Compounds

• Carbohydrates are the most common organic compound found on Earth.
• Carbohydrates are essential for life as they provide energy.
• The basic building block of carbohydrates is a monosaccharide.

Monosaccharides

• Monosaccharides are simple sugars.
• They have the general formula (CH2O)n, where n is at least 3.
• Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharides

• Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides are linked together by a glycosidic bond.
• Lactose is a disaccharide made up of glucose and galactose.
• Sucrose is a disaccharide made up of glucose and fructose.
• Maltose is a disaccharide made up of two glucose molecules.

Polysaccharides

• Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked together by glycosidic bonds.
• Starch is a polysaccharide made up of glucose molecules.
• Amylose is a type of starch that is unbranched.
• Amylopectin is a type of starch that is branched.

Heteropolysaccharides

• Heteropolysaccharides consist of different sugar units, often containing amino sugars.
• Heparin is a heteropolysaccharide that has a variety of functions including preventing blood clotting, wound healing, and stimulating lipase activity.
• Heparin is found in mast cells.

Amino Acids

• Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
• Amino acids are organic compounds that contain an amino group ( - NH2 ) and a carboxyl group ( - COOH).
• Examples of amino acids include glycine, alanine, serine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, cysteine, methionine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine, arginine, histidine, lysine.

Hyaluronidase Enzyme

• Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.
• Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide found in connective tissue.
• Hyaluronidase is important for sperm penetration of the egg during fertilization.
• Hyaluronidase is also produced by some bacteria, which allows them to spread through tissues.

This quiz explores the essential structures and functions of carbohydrates, focusing on monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Discover how these organic compounds contribute to life and energy in living organisms. Test your knowledge on key examples and definitions related to carbohydrates.