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Life Is Sweet

Life Is Sweet. Biological Engineer Ram Sasisekharan: Tackling Complex Carbohydrates. Ram Sasisekharan Deciphers the Code. Biological engineer Sasisekharan wants to unlock the healing power of sugars. Biological sugars (carbohydrates) Help heal scrapes Hold cells together

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Life Is Sweet

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  1. Life Is Sweet Biological Engineer Ram Sasisekharan: Tackling Complex Carbohydrates

  2. Ram Sasisekharan Deciphers the Code Biological engineer Sasisekharan wants to unlock the healing power of sugars. • Biological sugars (carbohydrates) • Help heal scrapes • Hold cells together • Communicate messages throughout the body

  3. Answer: In most life forms Carbohydrates = Main energy source for the body

  4. Carbs Made Simple • Types of carbohydrates: • Monosaccharide―one simple sugar molecule • Disaccharide―two simple sugar molecules linked together • Polysaccharide―long, interconnected complexes of monosaccharide or disaccharide units that repeat a pattern

  5. Common Sugar Molecules Monosaccharide Disaccharide consisting of glucose and fructose chemically linked together

  6. Complex Carbohydrates – Zillions of Flavors • Amino acids • Building blocks of proteins • Link together in a linear fashion • Complex carbohydrates • Simple sugars connected in various combinations • Often have branched structure

  7. Proteoglycans Have Many Roles

  8. Open, Sesame Paracellular transport, in which molecules pass between epithelial cells, appears to be gated by a “sugar code.” The code is specified by glycan molecules that coat the top, or apical, surface of these cells.

  9. Heparin: Sugar-based Anticoagulant • Heparin and low-molecular weight heparin are drugs widely used to prevent blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes • Commercial preparations of heparin can produce excessive bleeding in some patients

  10. Sweet Treatments

  11. Research Applications How might knowledge about sugar molecules gained by Sasisekharan help in the fight against cancer?

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