Topic 5d: carbohydrates

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Chain of carbon atoms starting from the most oxidized end (which has a carbonyl group ---> aldehyde vs ketone).

Chirality:

Epimers and anomers

Absolute configuration (D vs L)

Switch between straight chain and cyclic forms

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glycosidic linkages can be characterized by which number carbons the monosaccharides are connected by, and by whether it is an α or β linkage

hydrolysis of glycosidic linkages requires catalysts.

Different linkages require different enzymes

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polysaccharide: chain of monosaccharides, may be branched or unbranched.

Chitin: arthropod exoskeletons

Starch: storage of sugars in plants, made up of amylose and amylopectin (glucose polymers)

Glycogen: storage of glucose in humans and other vertebrates, highly branched, usually in liver and muscle cells

Cellulose: most abundant natural biopolymer, cell wall of plants, structural support