Chapter 10: Carbohydrates

Flashcards summarizing key concepts from Chapter 10 on carbohydrates.

What are monosaccharides?

Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, serving as fundamental constituents of living systems and serving as fuel molecules.

What is the empirical formula for many carbohydrates?

The empirical formula for many carbohydrates is Cn(H2O)n, indicating they are carbon-based molecules rich in hydroxyl groups.

What are polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates formed by covalently linked monosaccharides.

How are monosaccharides linked to form disaccharides?

Monosaccharides are linked through O-glycosidic bonds.

What is the difference between aldoses and ketoses?

Aldoses contain an aldehyde group, while ketoses contain a keto group.

What role do glycosyltransferases play in oligosaccharide assembly?

Glycosyltransferases catalyze the formation of glycosidic bonds to join monosaccharides.

What is the main function of glycoproteins?

Glycoproteins serve a variety of biochemical roles, including cell adhesion and signaling.

Define glycosaminoglycans.

Glycosaminoglycans are a type of polysaccharide that consists of repeating disaccharide units and can include amino sugars.

What are the biological roles of lectins?

Lectins facilitate cell–cell contact and binding to specific carbohydrate structures on neighboring cells.

Describe the structure and function of cellulose.

Cellulose is an unbranched polymer of glucose joined by beta-1,4 linkages, providing structural support in plant cell walls.

What is the significance of reducing sugars?

Reducing sugars can react with oxidizing agents and are important in various biochemical processes, such as forming glycosylated hemoglobin.

What are the differences between amylose and amylopectin?

Amylose is an unbranched polymer of glucose linked by alpha-1,4 linkages, while amylopectin is a branched form with both alpha-1,4 and alpha-1,6 linkages.

What is I-cell disease?

I-cell disease is a lysosomal storage disease resulting from the improper glycosylation of enzymes, leading to their mistargeting from lysosomes.

How are blood groups determined?

Blood groups are determined by the presence of different carbohydrate antigens on the surface of red blood cells.

What role do glucosinolates play in plants?

Glucosinolates act as a defense against herbivory and can stimulate the production of detoxifying enzymes in humans.

What is the main component of the muscle and liver's storage form of glucose?

Glycogen is the main storage form of glucose in muscles and liver.

Describe the conformation of pyranose and furanose rings.

Pyranose rings are six-membered rings formed from aldoses, while furanose rings are five-membered rings formed from ketoses.

What is a glycosidic bond?

A glycosidic bond is a bond formed between the anomeric carbon of a monosaccharide and an alcohol or amine, creating a glycoside.

Why is glucose termed a reducing sugar?

Glucose exhibits properties of free aldehydes, reacting with oxidizing agents due to the equilibrium with its open-chain form.