Understanding Carbohydrates: Structure, Types, and Functions
This overview delves into carbohydrates, the essential biomolecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. We explore various types, including monosaccharides (like glucose), disaccharides (like maltose), oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides (like starch and cellulose). The importance of glycosidic linkages, energy storage, and structural roles in plants and animals are highlighted. Discover how molecular structure influences function, the role of isomers, and how some organisms digest cellulose effectively, showcasing the diversity and significance of carbohydrates in biology.
Understanding Carbohydrates: Structure, Types, and Functions
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Presentation Transcript
CH2OH O H H H OH H OH HO H OH Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates • Structure -C, H, O (1:2:1) carbo - hydr - ate CH2O (CH2O)x C6H12O6 • Monomer: monosaccharide (CH2O)x C6H12O6
H O C CH2OH CH2OH C OH O H H O H H H OH H OH H C H HO OH HO HO H H H OH OH H Glyceraldehyde Glucose Ribose Sugars • Most names for sugars end in -ose • Classified by number of carbons • 6C = hexose (glucose) • 5C = pentose (ribose) • 3C = triose (glyceraldehyde) 6 5 3
Sugar structure 5C & 6C sugars form rings in solution Carbons are numbered
CH2OH O H H H OH H OH HO H OH Glucose Simple & complex sugars • Monosaccharides • simple 1 monomer sugars • glucose • Disaccharides • 2 monomers (sugar) • Oligosaccharides (blood groups) • 3-20 monomers • Polysaccharides • large polymers- 20-100s monomers
H2O Building sugars • Dehydration synthesis monosaccharides disaccharide | glucose | glucose | maltose What is the bond called? glycosidiclinkage
Functions: • Fast energy • Energy Storage • Structural material • Raw materials
Polysaccharides • Polymers of sugars • costs little energy to build • easily reversible = release energy • Function: • energy storage • starch (plants) • glycogen (animals) • in liver & muscles • Structure material • Cellulose (plants) • Chitin (Insects Crustaceans Fungi)
Glucose isomers Starch vs Cellulose(stored in animals as glycogen) vs (structural storage in plants) Form determines Function Both are polysaccharides Alpha glucose vs beta glucose
Polysaccharide diversity • Molecular structure determines function in starch in cellulose • isomers of glucose • structure determines function…
Beta Glucose Cellulose • Most abundant organic compound on Earth • herbivores have evolved a mechanism to digest cellulose • most carnivores have not • that’s why they eat meat to get their energy & nutrients • cellulose = undigestible roughage
Linear vs. branched polysaccharides slow release starch (plant) energystorage glycogen (animal) fast release
Cow can digest cellulose well; no need to eat other sugars Gorilla can’t digest cellulose well; must add another sugar source, like fruit to diet
Helpful bacteria • How can herbivores digest cellulose so well? • BACTERIA live in their digestive systems & help digest cellulose-rich (grass) meals Caprophage Ruminants
EAT X Questions? Let’s build some Carbohydrates!
Functional groups determine function carbonyl aldehyde carbonyl ketone
Numbered carbons energy stored in C-C bondsharvested in cellular respiration C 6' C O 5' C C 4' 1' C C 3' 2'
Polysaccharide diversity • Molecular structure determines function in starch in cellulose • isomers of glucose • structure determines function…
