Macromolecules II: Polysaccharides and Lipids

Polysaccharides

Long chain polymers of sugars for structure/storage.

Oligosaccharides

Short polymers attached to cell surface proteins.

are carbohydrates that are made up of a small number of monsacerides or simple sugars

Aldo sugars aldoses

Sugars with a terminal carbonyl group. located end of chain.

Keto sugars

simple carbohydrates, Sugars with an internal carbonyl group. ketone

Trioses

Sugars with three carbon atoms.

Tetroses

Sugars with four carbon atoms.

Pentoses

Sugars with five carbon atoms, e.g., ribose.

Hexoses

Sugars with six carbon atoms, e.g., glucose.

Heptoses

Sugars with seven carbon atoms.

Glycosidic bond

a type of covalent chemical bond that connects a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another molecule Linkage formed by eliminating water between monosaccharides.

α glycosidic bonds

Bonds involving α form of glucose.

β glycosidic bonds

Bonds involving β form of glucose. forming a linear chain structure typically found in cellulose

Starch

It's made up of long chains of glucose molecules. 

Storage polysaccharide in plant cells.

Glycogen

Storage polysaccharide in animal cells.

Amylose

Unbranched form of starch.

Amylopectin

Branched form of starch.

Cellulose

Structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls.

Chitin

Polysaccharide in insect exoskeletons and crustacean shells.

Fatty acids

a long chain of carbon atoms with a carboxyl group at one end Amphipathic hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group.

Triacylglycerols

Storage lipids, solid or liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

forms the primary building block of cell membranes Lipids important for membrane structure, amphipathic.

Glycolipids

Lipids with carbohydrate groups, found in membranes. think Gluclose

Steroids

Lipids with a four-ringed hydrocarbon skeleton.

Steroid hormones

Signaling molecules derived from cholesterol. they are secreted by three “steroid glands”—the adrenal cortex, testes, and ovaries