Biomolecules - Carbohydrates

• Disaccharide is composed of two monosaccharides joined by glycosidic linkage; soluble in water
• Biomolecules - substance that are produced by cells and living organisms
• Carbohydrates - are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; source of energy; known as sugars; Cn(H2O)n
• Monosaccharides (C6H12O6) - simplest form of sugar; basic unit of carbohydrates; colorless and very soluble in water
• Glucose - main type of sugar known as blood sugar; major source of energy
• Fructose - the sweetest sugar, known as fruit sugar because it primarily occurs in many fruits
• Galactose - found in milk and dairy foods
• Sucrose - a disaccharide made of glucose and fructose, naturally found in sugarcane
• Lactose - known as milk sugar, a disaccharide formed by one glucose and one galactose
• Maltose - known as maltobiose or malt sugar, is a disaccharide formed from two glucose; usually used in making beer
• Condensation reaction: A reaction in which two molecules join together to form a molecule with a lower molecular mass; involves the elimination of water molecule
• Hydrolysis reaction is the breaking of a chemical bond between two monosaccharides by the addition of a water molecule
• Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates consisting of more than 2 monosaccharides; insoluble in water
• 3 Main functions of Polysaccharides

  • providing structural support
  • storing energy
  • sending cellular communication signals
• Starch, a polysaccharide, energy stored in plants
• Cellulose is a strong, stable tissue that forms all major supporting structures in plants such as cell wall; ideal for the formation of strong fibers
• Glycogen is more compact than starch; energy storage for animals in liver and muscle tissues
• In liver, the synthesis and breakdown of glycogen is regulated to maintain blood glucose levels
• In muscle tissues, glycogen is regulated to meet the energy requirements of the muscle cell
• Chitin gives strength to the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects