Classification of Monosaccharides

These flashcards cover the classification of monosaccharides and their importance.

Trioses

Monosaccharides containing 3 carbon atoms, including aldotrioses like glyceraldehyde and ketotrioses like dihydroxyacetone.

Tetroses

Monosaccharides containing 4 carbon atoms, such as aldotetroses like erythrose and ketotetroses like erythrulose.

Pentoses

Monosaccharides containing 5 carbon atoms, including aldopentoses like ribose and ketopentoses like ribulose.

Importance of Pentoses

Pentoses like ribose and deoxyribose are key components in nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) and high-energy phosphate compounds (ATP, GTP), and are also constituents of coenzymes and glycoproteins.

Hexoses

Monosaccharides containing 6 carbon atoms, including aldohexoses like glucose and ketohexoses like fructose.

Importance of Hexoses

Glucose is the major energy source for mammals; fructose is the main sugar in semen; galactose is essential for lactose synthesis; mannose is a constituent of many glycoproteins.

Heptoses

Monosaccharides containing 7 carbon atoms, such as sedoheptulose, which is formed in the hexose monophosphate shunt.

Asymmetric Carbon Atom

A carbon atom that is attached to 4 different groups or atoms, leading to properties of optical activity and optical isomerism.