Carbohydrates & Glycoconjugates of Cell Surfaces

(Chapter 7)

Carbohydrates play a role in energy metabolism & storage, they are

building blocks of polysaccharides, nucleic acids, & glycoproteins, they

provide structural scaffolding for cell walls, and they are involved in

molecular recognition important in cell growth & transformation.

7.1 How Are Carbohydrates Named?

-monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, & polysaccharides

7.2 What Is the Structure & Chemistry of Monosaccharides?

-simple carbohydrates(CH2O)n that serve as building blocks (monomers)
-aldoses contain an aldehyde &ketoses contain a ketone
-stereochemistry, Fischer & Haworth projections,furanose &pyranose

7.3 What Is the Structure & Chemistry of Oligosaccharides?

-glycosidic linkage indisaccharides &oligos accharides

7.4 What Is the Structure & Chemistry of Polysaccharides?

-polysaccharides contain more than 10 monosaccharide units
-storage polysaccharides arestarch (amylase &amylopectin) &glycogen
-structural polysaccharides arecellulose &chitin

7.5 – 7.6 What Are Glycoproteins & Proteoglycans?

-glycoconjugates, O-linked & N-linked oligosaccharide groups

Carbohydrates & Glycoconjugates of Cell Surfaces

Most abundant class of organic molecules in nature

More than half of all organic carbon on Earth is stored in just two

carbohydrates – starch and cellulose

 Basic formula (CH2O)n where n≥ 3

Metabolic precursors to virtually all other biomolecules
Breakdown of carbohydrates provides energy that sustains life
Glycolipids and glycoproteins play important roles in structure and

recognition

Characteristic Chemical Features of Carbohydrates

-one or more chiral (asymmetric) centers
-linear and ring structures
-polymeric structures via glycosidic bonds
-hydrogen bonding