Topic 1: Chemistry for Biology - Lecture Notes by Dr. Nihal Gabr

Practice flashcards covering the chemical foundations of macromolecules, including detailed structures and formulas of carbohydrates as presented by Dr. Nihal Gabr.

Macromolecules

Large molecules with a large molecular mass, often containing $1000$ or more atoms, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats or lipids, and nucleic acids.

Polymer

A molecule made from many repeated subunits called monomers.

Monomer

The single repeated subunit that forms the building block of a polymer.

Amino acids

The specific monomers that make up proteins.

Nucleotide

The specific monomer that makes up nucleic acids.

Lipids

Large molecules made from fatty acids and glycerol; they are not considered polymers.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a ratio of $1:2:1$ ($C:H:O$).

Monosaccharides

Single sugar units that are small in size, water soluble with an osmotic effect, and cannot be hydrolysed.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates consisting of $2$ sugar units joined by $1$ glycosidic bond.

Oligosaccharides

Carbohydrates consisting of $3$ to $10$ sugar units.

Polysaccharides

Polymers containing $11$ or more monosaccharides joined by many glycosidic bonds.

Glucose Formula

A monosaccharide with the chemical formula $C_6 H_{12} O_6$.

Monosaccharide General Formula

Represented as $C_n H_{2n} O_n$ or $(CH_2 O)_n$.

Disaccharide General Formula

Represented as $C_n H_{2n-2} O_{n-1}$.

Polysaccharide General Formula

Represented as $(C_6 H_{10} O_5)_n$, which is derived from $(C_6 H_{12} O_6)_n - (H_2 O)_n$.

Alpha glucose

A form of glucose where the $OH$ group on carbon $1$ is positioned below the ring.

Beta glucose

A form of glucose where the $OH$ group on carbon $1$ is positioned above the ring.

Beta galactose

A monosaccharide similar to beta glucose except the $OH$ group at carbon $4$ is in the 'up' position.

Beta fructose

A monosaccharide isomer mentioned as one of the required structures to be memorized.

Maltose

A disaccharide formed from the condensation of two alpha glucose molecules.

Lactose

A disaccharide formed from beta galactose and glucose (alpha or beta).

Sucrose

A specific disaccharide mentioned as part of the carbohydrate classification.

Condensation

A chemical reaction that joins molecules and results in the removal of a water ($H_2 O$) molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that breaks glycosidic bonds by adding a water ($H_2 O$) molecule.

Glycosidic bond

The chemical bond that joins monosaccharides together into disaccharides or polysaccharides.

1,4 alpha glycosidic bond

The specific bond formed when two alpha glucose molecules join to form maltose.

Osmotic effect

The ability of soluble monosaccharides and disaccharides to affect the water potential of a solution.

Solubility of Polysaccharides

Unlike monosaccharides and disaccharides, polysaccharides are water insoluble.

Taste of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides and disaccharides have a sweet taste, whereas polysaccharides are not sweet.

Examples of Polysaccharides

Starch, Glycogen, and Cellulose.