Lecture 9: Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

Biomolecule that has a general formula C6H12)

Monomer

monosaccharide

Polymer

Polysaccharides

Total carbohydrates

sugars, dietary fibers, starches

main use of sugar

energy, produced into ATP through cellular respiration, food for the brain

The big four polysaccharides

glycogen, starch, cellulose, chitin

Dietary fibers

polysaccharides that cannot be fully digested by humans

Soluble

Fomrs a gelatinous mass in stomach , which makes you feel fuller for longer

Insoluble

Helped move material through the digestive system and provides bulk to stool

The two dietary fibers

Chitin and Cellulose

Chitin

polysaccharide with extra nitrogen groups

makes up fungi cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons

Cellulose

Structural polysaccharide that makes up a plant cell wall

Universally indigestible except for some bacteria

Sources of fiber

whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, avocados, fruit

The two storage polysaccharides

starch and glycogen

Starch

the way plants store extra glucose

Long strands of glucose

Most common carbohydrate in diets

Glycogen

The way that animals and fungi store extra glucose

Long and highly branching

Stored in large muscles and liver

Blood sugar

Free floating glucose in the bloodstream that is controlled by the hormones in the pancreas

Type one diabetes

autoimmune damage to pancreas

Type two diabetes

Overexposure ti high levels of glucose over the tears

causes cells to ignore insulin signal, leading to high blood sugar

Glycemic index

Measurement of how high blood glucose levels spike after eating foods