Chemistry of Carbohydrates

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the lecture on carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates

Polyhydroxy-aldehydes or polyhydroxy-ketones and their derivatives.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar units that cannot be hydrolyzed further.

Oligosaccharides

Carbohydrates that yield 2 to 6 monosaccharide units upon hydrolysis.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates that yield more than 6 monosaccharide units upon hydrolysis.

Aldoses

Monosaccharides with an aldehyde group at the first carbon.

Ketoses

Monosaccharides with a ketone group at the second carbon.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates consisting of two monosaccharides united by glycosidic linkage.

Maltose

Disaccharide formed from two glucose molecules, hydrolyzed by maltase.

Lactose

Disaccharide formed from galactose and glucose, hydrolyzed by lactase.

Sucrose

Disaccharide formed from fructose and glucose; non-reducing and hydrolyzed by sucrase.

Homopolysaccharides

Polymers containing only one type of monosaccharide.

Heteropolysaccharides

Polymers containing two or more different monosaccharide units.

Starch

A storage polysaccharide in plants, consisting of amylose and amylopectin.

Glycogen

Storage form of carbohydrates in animals, primarily found in liver and muscles.

Cellulose

Polysaccharide made of glucose units linked in a way that is non-hydrolysable by humans.

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)

A group of heteropolysaccharides consisting of amino sugars and associated with proteins in proteoglycans.

Proteoglycan

Complex molecule composed of a protein core with covalently attached GAGs, important for extracellular matrix.

Hyaluronic acid

A glycosaminoglycan that facilitates lubrication in joints and is present in embryonic tissue.

Heparin

An anticoagulant that binds factors IX and XI, activating anti-thrombin.

Keratan sulfate

A glycosaminoglycan important for maintaining transparency in the cornea.

Dermatan sulfate

A glycosaminoglycan that maintains the structure and shape of the sclera of the eye.