2.2 Biological molecules

• What are carbohydrates primarily used for in organisms?

  Energy storage
• What is the composition of starch?

  Amylose and amylopectin
• What percentage of starch is amylose?

  10%-30%
• What stabilizes the helical shape of amylose?

  Hydrogen bonds
• What percentage of starch is amylopectin?

  70%-90%
• What type of bonds contribute to the branching of amylopectin?

  1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
• How do the branches in amylopectin benefit glucose availability?

  They provide end glucose molecules for respiration
• What is the primary function of glycogen in the body?

  Energy storage in liver and muscles
• What type of bonds are present in glycogen?

  1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
• How do the branches in glycogen affect its function?

  They allow faster condensation and hydrolysis reactions
• What are the components of lactose?

  α-glucose and β-glucose
• What are the components of maltose?

  α-glucose and α-glucose
• What are the components of sucrose?

  α-glucose and fructose
• What are the components of cellobiose?

  β-glucose and β-glucose
• What is the structural unit of cellulose?

  β-glucose
• How does the inversion of beta glucose affect cellulose?

  It allows many hydrogen bonds to form
• What property of cellulose allows it to withstand turgor pressure?

  High tensile strength
• What is the permeability of cellulose fibers?

  Freely permeable
• What role does the enzyme cellulase play in relation to cellulose?

  It hydrolyzes cellulose for fiber
• What are the main types of carbohydrates and their functions?

  • Starch: Energy storage in plants
  • Glycogen: Energy storage in animals
  • Cellulose: Structural component in plant cell walls
  • Lactose, Maltose, Sucrose, Cellobiose: Disaccharides with various functions
• What are the differences between amylose and amylopectin?

  • Amylose:
  • 10%-30% of starch
  • Unbranched helical shape
  • Amylopectin:
  • 70%-90% of starch
  • Branched structure
• What are the characteristics of cellulose that contribute to its strength?

  • Inversion of beta glucose
  • Formation of many hydrogen bonds
  • High tensile strength
  • Ability to withstand turgor pressure
• What is a monosaccharide?

  One glucose molecule
• What is the general formula for monosaccharides?

  (C H₂O)ₙ
• What are the two types of glucose?

  Alpha glucose and beta glucose
• What are the main functions of carbohydrates?

  • Source of energy (glucose in respiration)
  • Store of energy (glycogen in muscles and liver)
  • Structurally important (cellulose in cell wall)
• How many carbons are in a monosaccharide compared to oxygen?

  Same number of carbon as oxygen
• What physical form do monosaccharides typically take?

  White crystalline solids
• What happens when monosaccharides dissolve in water?

  They make sweet solutions
• What is the formula for monosaccharides?

  (CH₂O)ₙ
• What is a disaccharide?

  Two glucose molecules
• What type of bond is formed in disaccharides?

  Glycosidic bond
• What reaction occurs to join two monosaccharides?

  Condensation reaction
• Name two examples of disaccharides.

  Maltose and sucrose
• What are polysaccharides made of?

  Multiple glucose molecules
• What are the polymers of α-glucose?

  Starch and glycogen
• What is the polymer of β-glucose?

  Cellulose
• What are the characteristics of glycogen?

  • Main energy storage form in glucose
  • Formed from alpha glucose
  • Joined by 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
  • Large number of side branches
  • Not soluble, large but compact
• What are the characteristics of starch?

  • Energy storage form in plants
  • Amylose: unbranched, 1,4 glycosidic bonds
  • Amylopectin: branched, 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds
• What are the characteristics of cellulose?

  • Long unbranched chains of β-glucose
  • Each monomer is inverted