Biochemistry - Module 2
Biochemistry - Module 2
Biochemistry - Module 2
MODULE 2. CARBOHYDRATES
Overview:
Learning Outcomes:
1. Define carbohydrates
Discussion:
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-
structure-of-carbohydrates
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https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+carbohydrate&source=lnms&tbm
Functions of Carbohydrates
1. sources of energy
2. intermediates in the biosynthesis of other basic biochemical entities (fats and
proteins)
3. associated with other entities such as glycosides, vitamins and antibiotics)
4. form structural tissues in plants and in microorganisms (cellulose, lignin, murein)
5. participate in biological transport, cell-cell recognition, activation of growth
factors, modulation of the immune system
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Classification of carbohydrates
A. Number of Carbohydrate Units
C. Number of carbons
Triose – three carbons Hexose – six carbons
Tetrose – four carbons Heptose – seven carbons
Pentose – five carbons
D. Cyclic form
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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Monosaccharides
C O
Aldehydes - one of the two additional bonds that the carbonyl carbon atom forms must
be to a hydrogen atom.
H C H
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Ketones – both of the additional bonds of the carbonyl carbon atom must be to another
carbon atom that is part of alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aromatic group.
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C C C
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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carbohydrates
Sugar Nomenclature
For sugars with more than one chiral center, D or L refers to the asymmetric C
farthest from the aldehyde or keto group.
Chiral Center – an atom in a molecule that has four different groups bonded to it
in a tetrahedral orientation.
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
D & L sugars are mirror images of one another. They have the same name, e.g.,
D-glucose & L-glucose.
Other stereoisomers have unique names, e.g., glucose, mannose, galactose, etc.
The 6-C aldoses have 4 asymmetric centers. Thus there are 16 stereoisomers (8
D-sugars and 8 L-sugars).
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https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Pentoses and hexoses can cyclize as the ketone or aldehyde reacts with a distal
OH.
Haworth Projections – a two- dimensional structural notation that specifies the three-
dimensional structure of a cyclic form of a monosaccharide.
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https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
a 6-member pyranose ring, by reaction of the C2 keto group with the OH on C6,
or
a 5-member furanose ring, by reaction of the C2 keto group with the OH on C5.
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https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
The representation above reflects the chair configuration of the glucopyranose ring
more accurately than the Haworth projection.
Disaccharides
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Importance of Disaccharide
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https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+sugarcane&tbm
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Examples of Disaccharides
1. Maltose
2. Sucrose
Formed from 1 glucose and 1 fructose molecule and is the form in which
carbohydrates are transported in the phloem in plant.
3. Lactose
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https://www.google.com/search?q=picture+of+maltose&tbm
Polysaccharides
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-
organism/molecular-structure-of-carbohydrates
Starch
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Not soluble.
The chains coil up into a basic spiral shape making the molecules compact.
Hydrogen bonds hold the polysaccharide chain in the compact spiral shape.
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Glycogen
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carbohydrates
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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Module in Biochemistry
https://www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
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https://
www.biologydiscussion.com/organism/metabolism-organism/molecular-structure-of-
carbohydrates
Assessment:
1. What is a carbohydrate?
2. Give examples of foods that are rich in carbohydrates
3. Discuss the classification of carbohydrates
4. What are the importance of carbohydrates?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQi84TnstI4
References:
Stoker, Stephen H. Exploring General, Organic and Biological Chemistry. 6th Edition
Manosa, S., Talaue, F. (2007). Breaking Through Biology, C & E Publishing, Inc.
https://www.britannica.com/science/carbohydrate
https://alevelbiology.co.uk/notes/carbohydrates-introduction-and-classification/
https://foodandhealth.com/5-things-to-know-carbohydrate/
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