Biology
Carbohydrates
Lesson #1
Intro
○ All carbohydrates are made from Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen
(CH20)n.
○ n = the number of atoms.
✽ Functions:
○ Substrate for respiration;
○ Structural (e.g. cellulose in plants);
○ Recognition of molecules outside a cell.
✽ Types:
○ Monosaccharides (one molecule);
○ Disaccharides (two molecules);
○ Polysaccharides (more than two molecules).
Monosaccharides (simplest form of carb)
○ Energy source;
○ Taste sweet and dissolve in water;
○ Molecules with the same chemical formula, but different molecular structures
= isomers;
○ Classified as reducing sugars - partake in reduction reactions;
○ Classified by the no. of carbon atoms - trioses, pentoses, or hexoses.
✽ alpha-Glucose (a-glucose):
○ Monosaccharide;
○ Energy source in most organisms;
○ Hexo sugar structure (below):
Carbohydrates
Lesson #1
Intro
○ All carbohydrates are made from Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen
(CH20)n.
○ n = the number of atoms.
✽ Functions:
○ Substrate for respiration;
○ Structural (e.g. cellulose in plants);
○ Recognition of molecules outside a cell.
✽ Types:
○ Monosaccharides (one molecule);
○ Disaccharides (two molecules);
○ Polysaccharides (more than two molecules).
Monosaccharides (simplest form of carb)
○ Energy source;
○ Taste sweet and dissolve in water;
○ Molecules with the same chemical formula, but different molecular structures
= isomers;
○ Classified as reducing sugars - partake in reduction reactions;
○ Classified by the no. of carbon atoms - trioses, pentoses, or hexoses.
✽ alpha-Glucose (a-glucose):
○ Monosaccharide;
○ Energy source in most organisms;
○ Hexo sugar structure (below):
