Carbohydrates - Retrieval Questions 1

What is the function of glyceraldhyde?

To be used in the carbohydrate metabolism.

Where are the chitin microfibrils stored?

Around the cell

What is the structure of glycogen?

Branched and helical

What is the function of ribose?

It is in the nucleotides of RNA and ATP.

Why is it good that chitin is waterproof?

It helps insects prevent water loss from their body.

What is the structure of chitin?

Similar structure to cellulose.
It has many beta glucose molecules joined together with 1-4 glycosidic bonds.
However, it has an acetylamine group that is bonded to carbon 2.

What is amylose?

A structured straight chains of glucose unit.

What are the requirements for being classes as a polysaccharide?

They need to have 10 monosaccharides joined together.

What are some features of cellulose?

It is very strong.
Turgid.

What type of sugar is sucrose?

Non-reducing

Describe the digestion of amylopectin.

Increased rate of digestion as the branched structure allows more than one glucose to be hydrolysed at a time.

Where is glycogen found?

In the muscle and liver

What are microfibrils?

A structure that is composed of many cellulose chains.

Where are cells is glycogen found?

Animal and fungal cells

Why is cellulose not easily digested?

Because it is hard to break down by hydrolysis because it is a polysaccharide.

What are monosaccharides?

They are single sugar monomers.
They are the simplest carbohydrates.

What is the function of pentose?

It is the nucleotides of DNA

What are isomers?

Molecules that have the same chemical formula but a different arrangement of atoms in space.

Where is starch found?

Seeds
Potato Tubers

What is the structure of starch?

Not branched and helical.

What forms due to the crosslinking of hydrogen bonds?

Strong fibres

What is amylopectin?

Branched structure similar to animal glycogen.