Chapter 5: Organic Molecules of Life (Carbohydrates)

What are the monomers and polymers of carbohydrates?

Monomer → monosaccharides

Polymer → polysaccharide

What is the basic molecular formula of monosaccharides?

CH2O

What is the most common monosaccharides?

Glucose (C6H12O6)

How are monosaccharides classified?

1. Number of carbons in the carbon skeleton

2. Location of the carbonyl group

What are the 2 different locations of the carbonyl group in monosaccharides? What are there names?

Aldose → End

Ketose → Middle

How do monosaccharides interact in chemical equilibrium? In aqueous solutions?

Chemical Equilibrium → exist in both ring and chain structures

Aqueous Solutions → can convert from chain into ring structures

What is the bond between 2 monosaccharides called?

Glycosidic Linkage

What are 2 bonded monosaccharides called?

Disaccharide

Starch (which organism and stored in what)

Glucose-based storage polysaccharide (GSP) used in plants

Usually stored in chloroplasts as simple form amylose

Glycogen (which organism and stored in what)

Glucose-based storage polysaccharide (GSP) used in animals

Usually stored in liver and muscle cells

What glucose-based storage polysaccharide (GSP) is used in cell walls?

Cellulose

What is the difference between starch's and cellulose's polysaccharides?

Starch → helix-shaped (alpha linkages)

Cellulose → straight and unbranched (beta linkages)

Alpha Glycosidic Bond

Both OH groups in a polysaccharide are below the plane of interaction

Beta Glycosidic Bond

The OH groups are on opposite planes of interaction (one above/one below)

Why can't humans and most animals digest cellulose?

Enzymes that can break down alpha linkages can digest starch through hydrolysis but cannot digest cellulose (a insoluble fiber)