Page 2: Complex Carbohydrates and Their Functions

The second page delves into more complex carbohydrate structures, particularly disaccharides and polysaccharides, explaining their formation and biological roles.

Definition: Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates formed by joining multiple simple sugar units, typically insoluble in water and requiring enzymatic breakdown.

Example: Important disaccharides include:

• Sucrose: glucose + fructose (1,2-α-glycosidic bond)
• Lactose: glucose + galactose (1,4-α-glycosidic bond)
• Maltose: glucose + glucose (1,4-α-glycosidic bond)

Highlight: Key polysaccharides and their functions:

• Glycogen: energy storage in animals and fungi
• Cellulose: structural component in plant cell walls
• Starch: energy storage in plants (20% amylose, 80% amylopectin)
• Chitin: structural component in arthropod exoskeletons

Vocabulary: The formation of 1,4-β-glycosidic bonds is crucial in cellulose structure, while 1,4-α-glycosidic bonds are important in starch formation.

Page 1: Basic Carbohydrate Structure and Monosaccharides

The first page introduces the fundamental concepts of carbohydrate structure and monosaccharides. These compounds are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, with distinct molecular arrangements determining their properties and functions.

Definition: Monosaccharides are simple sugars that are water-soluble and sweet-tasting, containing between three to eight carbon atoms.

Example: Key monosaccharides include:

• Trioses (C3): 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde
• Pentoses (C5): Ribose and Deoxyribose
• Hexoses (C6): Glucose, Fructose, and Galactose

Highlight: Each monosaccharide contains specific functional groups:

• Hydroxyl group $-OH$
• Aldehyde group $-CHO$
• Ketone group $-CO-$

Vocabulary: Oligosaccharides form through glycosidic bonds, with two main types:

• 1,2-glycosidic bonds: easily broken down by all organisms
• 1,4-glycosidic bonds: broken down by specific organisms