Carbohydrates II - Disaccharides and Polysaccharides

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to disaccharides and polysaccharides, including definitions and examples.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by two monosaccharides linked by a glycosidic bond.

Glycosidic Bond

The bond formed between monosaccharides to create disaccharides or polysaccharides.

Reducing Sugar

A sugar that can donate electrons to a chemical reaction, identified by the presence of a free anomeric carbon. Any sugar containing a hemiacetal

Maltose

A disaccharide formed from two glucose molecules linked by an α-1,4 glycosidic bond.

Lactose

A disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose, linked by a β-1,4 glycosidic bond.

Non-reducing Sugar

A sugar that does not have a free anomeric carbon and cannot act as a reducing agent. 2 sugars can be joined via a glycosidic bond between two anomeric carbons

Raffinose

A trisaccharide composed of galactose, glucose, and fructose.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates consisting of many monosaccharide units, can be homopolymers or heteropolymers.

Starch

A polysaccharide used as energy storage in plants, consisting of amylose and amylopectin.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls, formed by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds and indigestible by humans.

Chitin

A polysaccharide that is a primary component of the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans, rigid and stable

Glycosaminoglycans

Negatively charged heteropolysaccharides in the extracellular matrix, involved in joint lubrication and cell communication, form a meshwork with fibrous proteins to form extracellular matrix

Agar

A branched heteropolysaccharide used in laboratories for growing bacteria and separating DNA composed of agarose and agaropectin

Glycolipids

Lipids with a covalently bonded oligosaccharide component, important in cell membranes and blood group determination.

Glycoside

The compound produced by a glycosidic bond

Glycogen

Polysaccharide that acts as energy storage in animals

Ganglioside carbohydrates

Composition determines blood groups in vertebrates