Carbohydrates and Metabolism (November 6th)

Carbohydrates differ…

greatly in size, proprieties, and functions

What is the general structure of a Carbohydrate?

C_nH_2nO_n or (CH₂O)_n

Biological Roles of Carbohydrates

Source of stored energy

Structural molecules

Recognition/signaling molecules

In what way are Carbohydrates structural?

Exoskeleton of Arthropods

Cell wall of plants and fungi

Simple sugars:

Monosaccharides and Polysaccharides

Monosaccharides

Up to 7 Carbon atoms

Pentose and Hexose

Pentose

Ribose and Deoxyribose

Hexose

Glucose and Galactose

Galactose

part of lactose/milk sugars

Fructose

part of sucrose/fruit sugars

Glucose

Important source of energy

Polysaccharides

long chain of monosaccharides (multiple types) joined by Glycosidic linkages and may be branched

What bonds are between monosaccharides?

Glycosidic linkages (covalent)

Disaccharide (2 simple sugars)

Oligosaccharides (bonded to proteins and lipids)

Metabolism Pathways

Anabolic and Catabolic

General Principles of Metabolic Pathways

Chemical transformational reactions occur in a series

Each reaction is catalyzed by a specific enzyme

Each pathway is controlled by a key enzyme

In Euk. many pathways are compartmentalized