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Carbohydrates in General Biology

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What are carbohydrates?
    Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as energy sources and structural components in living organisms.
  • What are monosaccharides?
    Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, single sugar units like glucose, fructose, and galactose.
  • What is the difference between glucose, fructose, and galactose?
    They are isomers with the same formula \(C_6H_{12}O_6\) but differ in structure and function.
  • What is the significance of glucose in the body?
    Glucose is the primary blood sugar and main energy source, converted into ATP for cellular activities.
  • What are disaccharides?
    Disaccharides are carbohydrates made of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond, e.g., sucrose, lactose, maltose.
  • What is a glycosidic linkage?
    A glycosidic linkage is a covalent bond formed between two sugar molecules during a dehydration reaction.
  • What is sucrose composed of?
    Sucrose is a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose linked by a glycosidic bond.
  • What are oligosaccharides?
    Oligosaccharides are short chains of 3 to 10 sugar units involved in cell recognition and protection.
  • What roles do oligosaccharides play on cell surfaces?
    They function in cell adhesion and cell recognition as part of glycoproteins on the plasma membrane.
  • What are polysaccharides?
    Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides with storage or structural roles, e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose.
  • How do starch and cellulose differ structurally?
    Both are glucose polymers; starch has alpha-1,4 linkages (branched/unbranched), cellulose has beta-1,4 linkages forming straight chains.
  • What is glycogen?
    Glycogen is a highly branched glucose polymer used by animals for energy storage, mainly in liver and muscles.
  • What is the function of cellulose?
    Cellulose provides structural support in plant cell walls and is insoluble due to extensive hydrogen bonding.
  • Why can't most animals digest cellulose?
    Animals lack enzymes to break beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds in cellulose, unlike starch which has alpha linkages.
  • What is the difference between amylose and amylopectin?
    Amylose is unbranched starch with alpha-1,4 bonds; amylopectin is branched with alpha-1,6 bonds at branch points.
  • How do carbohydrates contribute to energy storage?
    Excess glucose is stored as glycogen in animals and starch in plants for later energy use.
  • What is the role of carbohydrates in protein sparing?
    Adequate carbohydrates prevent protein breakdown by providing sufficient energy.
  • How do carbohydrates aid in digestive health?
    Dietary fiber, a carbohydrate, promotes bowel regularity and supports a healthy gut microbiome.
  • What is the chemical formula of glucose?
    Glucose has the formula \(C_6H_{12}O_6\).
  • What are the two structural forms of glucose?
    Glucose exists in linear and ring forms, with the ring form predominant in aqueous solutions.