Chapter 11- Carbohydrates Flashcards
(137 cards)
Glycobiology
The study of the synthesis and structure of carbohydrates and how carbohydrates are attached to and recognized by other molecules, like proteins
Glycomics
The study of the glycome- all of the carbohydrates and carbohydrate associated molecules that cells produce. It is dynamic and depends on cellular and environmental conditions
Monosaccharides
Simple carbohydrates. They act as fuel for cells and are also fundamental to living systems. DNA is one example- it contains a sugar in its backbone. They are aldehydes or ketones that have two or more hydroxyl groups. The smallest monosaccharides contain 3 carbon atoms
Monosaccharide chemical structure
They are aldehydes or ketones that have two or more hydroxyl groups
Carbohydrates
Carbon based molecules that are rich in hydroxyl groups. The empirical formula for carbohydrates is (CH2O)n.
Aldehyde
A carbon bonded to an R group and a hydrogen, and double bonded to an oxygen
Ketone
A carbon bonded to 2 different R groups and double bonded to an oxygen
Smallest monosaccharides (3)
- Dihydroxyacetone (a ketose)
- D- Glyceraldehyde (an aldose)
- L- Glyceraldehyde (an aldose)
All contain 3 carbons
Ketose
A carbohydrate that contains a keto group (C=O)
Aldose
A carbohydrate that contains an aldehyde group
Simple monosaccharide naming
Simple monosaccharides that contain 3 carbon atoms are called trioses. Tetroses contain 4, pentoses contain 5, etc. Hexoses (6) include glucose and fructose, which are the most well known
D-Glucose
Contains 6 carbons and is a simple monosaccharide (aldose). An essential energy source for virtually all forms of life
D-Fructose
Contains 6 carbons and is a simple monosaccharide. It is a ketose instead of an aldose. Commonly used as a sweetener that is converted into glucose derivatives inside the cell. It is the most abundant ketohexose.
Constitutional isomers
Compounds that have identical molecular formulas but differ in how the atoms are ordered
Stereoisomers
Isomers that differ in spatial arrangement.
Enantiomers
A type of stereoisomer where the molecules are mirror images of each other. D-glyceraldehyde and L-glyceraldehyde are examples.
D and L isomers of monosaccharides
Most monosaccharides in vertebrates have the D configuration. D and L isomers are determined by the configuration of the asymmetric carbon atom farthest from the aldehyde or keto group. In the D configuration, OH is bonded to C-5 on the right and H is bonded on the left.
Diastereoisomers
Isomers that are not mirror images of each other (the opposite of enantiomers).
Number of possible stereoisomers
The number of possible stereoisomers equals 2^n, where n is the number of asymmetric carbon atoms
D-ribose
The carbohydrate component of RNA. It is a 5 carbon aldose
D-deoxyribose
The carbohydrate component of DNA. It is a 5 carbon aldose
D-mannose
A 6 carbon monosaccharide (aldose). The configuration between D-mannose and D-glucose differs only at C2 (they are epimeric at this point)
D-galactose
A 6 carbon aldose. D-glucose and D-galactose are epimeric at C4
Epimers
Sugars that are diastereoisomers differing in configuration at only a single asymmetric center. D-glucose is epimeric with D-mannose and D-galactose at different carbons.