Introduction to Carbohydrates

Flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture notes on carbohydrates and their structure, classification, and digestion.

What are monosaccharides?

Monosaccharides are simple sugars that contain a single polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone unit.

Give examples of common monosaccharides.

Common monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

What distinguishes aldoses from ketoses?

Aldoses have an aldehyde as their carbonyl group, while ketoses have a ketone as their carbonyl group.

What is an anomeric carbon?

The anomeric carbon is a stereocenter in a sugar that is an aldehyde or ketone in the open-chain form.

Define disaccharides.

Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides linked by a glycosidic bond.

What process forms disaccharides from monosaccharides?

Disaccharides are formed via a dehydration reaction (condensation synthesis) between two monosaccharides.

List examples of disaccharides.

Examples of disaccharides include lactose (galactose + glucose), sucrose (glucose + fructose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).

What role do glycosidases play in carbohydrate digestion?

Glycosidases catalyze the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in dietary carbohydrates.

What are polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides that can be linear or branched.

What are the characteristics of polysaccharides?

Polysaccharides are typically not sweet, insoluble in water, hydrophobic, and high molecular weight carbohydrates.

What are the main products of carbohydrate digestion?

The main products are the monosaccharides glucose, galactose, and fructose.

How are carbohydrates classified based on their carbonyl group?

Carbohydrates can be classified as aldoses if they contain an aldehyde group or ketoses if they contain a ketone group.

What is the role of enzymes in carbohydrate digestion?

Enzymes facilitate the breakdown of carbohydrates into simpler sugars that can be absorbed.

What is the significance of D and L configurations in monosaccharides?

D and L configurations refer to the stereochemistry of monosaccharides, which is relevant in biological systems.

What is the difference between isomers and epimers?

Isomers are molecules with the same formula but different structures; epimers are a subtype of isomers that differ at only one chiral center.

What describes the structural relationship between glucose and galactose?

Glucose and galactose are stereoisomers or epimers, having the same formula but a different 3D structure.