MC 2: BIOCHEMISTRY

1st Semester, AY: 2021-2022

RESOURCE UNIT
FACULTY-IN-CHARGE :
COURSE CODE AND TITLE : MC-2 Biochemistry
PROGRAM / YEAR / SCHEDULE : BSN - 1st YEAR

WEEK 4: OCTOBER 11 - 16
I. LEARNING OUTCOMES
a. Describe the properties of Polysaccharides.
b. Test food with the presence of polysaccharides.

II. TOPIC/S
Topic: Polysaccharides
● Definition/ Form of sugar
● Importance/ properties
● Source/ deficiency
APCAS Core Value: Integrity
Integration: Discussion of the Topic

III. ACTIVITIES

PART 1: REAL-TIME CLASS SESSION via GOOGLE MEET

P - Pre-Test (10 min.) (should not be posted in g-classroom)

Give atleast 5 properties of polysaccharides

L - Lesson Presentation ( 80 mins)

Polysaccharides

A - Activity- Seatwork (20mins) -must be posted in google classroom

Answer the following:
1. Describe the properties of Polysaccharides.
2. Give at least 5 examples of foods with the presence of polysaccharides and state the
significance of each on the human body.

Laboratory Task 5
Laboratory Task Sheet 5

W - Weekly Assignment (10mins)

Scope of Pre-test: Lipids
Rubrics: Relevance 5 pts.
Content 5 pts.
Explanation 5 pts.
Timeliness 5 pts.

PART 2: SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING via GOOGLE CLASSROOM (60mins)

L - Lecture Reading

Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. They are also known as
glycans. They are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food.

● This carbohydrate can react with water using amylase enzymes as catalyst, which produces
constituent sugars.

When many monomer units are joined together by a condensation reaction, they form a polymer
called polysaccharides. They are involved in the mechanical stability of cells, organs, organisms, and
act as carbohydrate stores in some other organisms.

Polysaccharides are characterized by the following chemical properties:

a. not sweet in taste

b. many of which are insoluble in water
c. do not form crystals when desiccated
d. compact and not osmotically active inside the cells
e. can be extracted to form white powder
f. general chemical formula of Cx(H2O)y.

Functions of a Polysaccharide

Depending on their structure, polysaccharides can have a wide variety of functions in nature. Some
polysaccharides are used for storing energy, some for sending cellular messages, and others for
providing support to cells and tissues.

● Storage of Energy
➢ Many polysaccharides are used to store energy in organisms. While the enzymes that
produce energy only work on the monosaccharides stored in a polysaccharide,
polysaccharides typically fold together and can contain many monosaccharides in a
dense area. Further, as the side chains of the monosaccharides form as many hydrogen
bonds as possible with themselves, water cannot intrude the molecules, making them
hydrophobic. This property allows the molecules to stay together and not dissolve into
the cytosol. This lowers the sugar concentration in a cell, and more sugar can then be
taken in. Not only do polysaccharides store the energy, but they allow for changes in
the concentration gradient, which can influence cellular uptake of nutrients and
water.
● Cellular Communication
➢ Many polysaccharides become glycoconjugates when they become covalently bonded
to proteins or lipids. Glycolipids and glycoproteins can be used to send signals between
and within cells. Proteins headed for a specific organelle may be “tagged” by certain
polysaccharides that help the cell move it to a specific organelle. The polysaccharides
can be identified by special proteins, which then help bind the protein, vesicle, or other
substance to a microtubule. The system of microtubules and associated proteins within
cells can take any substance to its destined location once tagged by specific
polysaccharides. Further, multi-cellular organisms have immune systems driven by the
recognition of glycoproteins on the surface of cells. The cells of a single organism will
produce specific polysaccharides to adorn its cells with. When the immune system
recognizes other polysaccharides and different glycoproteins, it is set into action, and
destroys the invading cells.
● Cellular Support
➢ By far one of the largest roles of polysaccharides is that of support. All plants on Earth
are supported, in part, by the polysaccharide cellulose. Other organisms, like insects and
fungi, use chitin to support the extracellular matrix around their cells. A polysaccharide
 can be mixed with any number of other components to create tissues that are more
rigid, less rigid, or even materials with special properties. Between chitin and cellulose,
both polysaccharides made of glucose monosaccharides, hundreds of billions of tons
are created by living organisms every year. Everything from the wood in trees, to the
shells of sea creatures is produced by some form of polysaccharide. Simply by
rearranging the structure, polysaccharides can go from storage molecules to much
stronger fibrous molecules. The ring structure of most monosaccharides aids this
process, as seen below.

Structure of a Polysaccharide

All polysaccharides are formed by the same basic process: monosaccharides are connected via
glycosidic bonds. When in a polysaccharide, individual monosaccharides are known as residues. Seen
below are just some of the many monosaccharides created in nature. Depending on the polysaccharide,
any combination of them can be combined in series.

The structure of the molecules being combined determines the structures and properties of the
resulting polysaccharide. The complex interaction between their hydroxyl groups (OH), other side
groups, the configurations of the molecules, and the enzymes involved all affect the resulting
polysaccharide produced. A polysaccharide used for energy storage will give easy access to the
monosaccharides, while maintaining a compact structure. A polysaccharide used for support is usually
assembled as a long chain of monosaccharides, which acts as a fiber. Many fibers together produce
hydrogen bonds between fibers that strengthen the overall structure of the material, as seen in the
image below.

The glycosidic bonds between monosaccharides consist of an oxygen molecule bridging two carbon
rings. The bond is formed when a Hydroxyl group is lost from the carbon of one molecule, while the
hydrogen is lost by the hydroxyl group of another monosaccharide. The carbon on the first molecule
will substitute the oxygen from the second molecule as its own, and a glycosidic bond is formed.
Because two molecules of hydrogen and one oxygen is expelled, the reaction produced a water
molecule as well. This type of reaction is called a dehydration reaction as water is removed from the
reactants.

Polysaccharides are categorized into two classes based on the type of monosaccharide units they
contain:

1. Homopolysaccharides
➢ They are composed of repeating units of only one type of monomer. The major
homopolysaccharides include cellulose, chitin, starches, and glycogen.
2. Heteropolysaccharides
➢ in which the monosaccharides vary, depending on which monosaccharides are
connected, and which carbons in the monosaccharides connect, polysaccharides take on
a variety of forms.
➢ Some of the heteropolysaccharides include glycosaminoglycans, agarose, and
peptidoglycans. Naturally, most of the heteropolysaccharides are connected with
peptides, proteins, and lipids.

A molecule with a straight chain of monosaccharides is called a linear polysaccharide, while a chain that
has arms and turns is known as a branched polysaccharide.

Three important polysaccharides, starch, glycogen, and cellulose, are composed of glucose. Starch and
glycogen serve as short-term energy stores in plants and animals, respectively. The glucose monomers
are linked by α glycosidic bonds.

Examples of a Polysaccharide

1. Cellulose and Chitin

➢ Cellulose and chitin are both structural polysaccharides that consist of many thousand
glucose monomers combined in long fibers. The only difference between the two
polysaccharides are the side-chains attached to the carbon rings of the
monosaccharides. In chitin, the glucose monosaccharides have been modified with a
group containing more carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. The side chain creates a dipole,
which increases hydrogen bonding. While cellulose can produce hard structures like
wood, chitin can produce even harder structures, like shell, limestone and even marble
when compressed.
➢ Both polysaccharides form as long, linear chains. These chains form long fibers, which
are deposited outside the cell membrane. Certain proteins and other factors help the
fibers weave into a complex shape, which is held in place by hydrogen bonds between
side chains. Thus, simple molecules of glucose that were once used for energy storage
can be converted into molecules with structural rigidity. The only difference between
the structural polysaccharides and storage polysaccharides are the monosaccharides
used. By changing the configuration of glucose molecules, instead of a structural
polysaccharide, the molecule will branch and store many more bonds in a smaller space.
The only difference between cellulose and starch is the configuration of the glucose
used.
2. Glycogen and Starch
➢ Probably the most important storage polysaccharides on the planet, glycogen and
starch are produced by animals and plants, respectively. These polysaccharides are
formed from a central starting point, and spiral outward, due to their complex
branching patterns. With the help of various proteins that attach to individual
 polysaccharides, the large branched molecules form granules, or clusters. This can be
seen in the image below of glycogen molecules and the associated proteins, seen in
the middle.

➢ When a glycogen or starch molecule is broken down, the enzymes responsible start at
the ends furthest from the center. This is important, as you will notice that because of
the extensive branching there are only 2 starting points, but many ends. This means the
monosaccharides can be quickly extracted from the polysaccharide and be utilized for
energy. The only difference between starch and glycogen is the number of branches
that occur per molecule. This is caused by different parts of the monosaccharides
forming bonds, and different enzymes acting on the molecules. In glycogen a branch
occurs every 12 or so residues, while in starch a branch occurs only every 30 residues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgDeHXWm8Hk

Reference;
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/polysaccharide
https://conductscience.com/polysaccharides-properties-functions-and-applications/

W - Weekly Assignment
List at least 5 Polysaccharides sources and state the importance of each on the human body.

L - Long Quiz (Weeks-3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th,15th, 17th)

Quiz #2
What elements make up carbohydrates? (D)
a. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen
b. sulfur, carbon, hydrogen
c. glucose and fructose
d. carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Which reaction is needed to break down complex sugars? (C)

 a. Hydration
b. Dehydration
c. Hydrolysis
d. Dehydrogenation

How many oxygen atoms are there in a disaccharide? (B)

a. 10
b. 11
c. 12
d. 22

The joining of two monosaccharides results in a __________________. (D)

a. Protein
b. Polymer
c. Polysaccharide
d. Disaccharide

C6H12O6 is the molecular formula for what carbohydrate? (D)

a. Sucrose
b. Glucose
c. Fructose
d. Both glucose and fructose

A patient has a genetic defect that causes intestinal epithelial cells to produce disaccharidases of much
lower activity than normal. Compared to a normal person, after eating a bowl of milk and oatmeal, this
patient will have higher levels of? (A) 2 PTS
a. maltose, sucrose, and lactose in the stool.
b. starch in the stool.
c. galactose and fructose in the blood.
d. glycogen in the muscles.

Which is the correct formula for a polysaccharide? (D)

a. C6H12O6
b. C12H24O12
c. C12H22O11
d. (C6H10O5)n

All carbohydrates are: (B)

a. made of amino acids
b. composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms
c. made of fatty acids
d. composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen atoms

Which of the following are storage polysaccharides? (C)

a. starch and glucose
b. chitin and cellulose
c. starch and glycogen
d. chitin and glycogen

The diagrams below show a complex carbohydrate in some of your body cells. Which complex
carbohydrate is it? (D)
 a. Cellulose
b. Chitin
c. Glucagon
d. Glycogen

Carbon is the basis for carbohydrates and all other biologically important molecules. All of the following
are reasons why Carbon lends itself to being the basic building block of life on our planet - except for
one. Which statement is incorrect? (B) 2 pts
a. Carbon readily makes four stable bonds, in single, double or triple configurations.
b. Carbon is a very dense & heavy element, giving living things stability.
c. Carbon is the least electronegative non-metal
d. Carbon has a high affinity for Oxygen & Hydrogen, which make bonds easily with C

Maltose is composed of which two simple sugars? C

a. Glucose & galactose
b. Glucose & fructose
c. 2 glucose
d. 2 fructose

Disaccharidases are enzymes found in the small intestine that participate in degradation of
disaccharides. Which of the following molecules can be broken down by these enzymes? (D) 2 pts
I. Fructose
II. Sucrose
III. Starch

a. II and III
b. I only
c. I and III
d. II only

Which of the following is true regarding the polysaccharides glycogen and cellulose? © 2 pts
a. Both molecules involve a glycosidic bond between the 1-carbon and the 6-carbon
b. Cellulose can be found as either amylose or amylopectin
c. Only glycogen molecules have branching regions
d. Humans can digest glycogen because it has beta glycosidic bonds

What two sugars is lactose composed of? (D)

a. Galactose and sucrose
b. Glucose and fructose
c. Glucose and glucose
d. Glucose and galactose

The disaccharide maltose is obtained from: (D)

a. Extractions of honey
b. Heating sucrose
c. Converting the glucose in grapes
d. Germinating grains especially barley

What health problems are a consequence of eating too much added sugar? D
a. overweight
 b. heart disease
c. diabetes
d. all of the above

These are all properties of a monosaccharide EXCEPT: (C)

a. simple sugar
b. 1:2:1 ratio
c. double sugar
d. used for energy

Glucose and glycogen are examples of how carbohydrates _______________. (B) 2 pts
a. Are stored and circulated.
b. Circulate and are stored.
c. Are stored in the liver and muscles.
d. Provide energy to the body.

The simple sugar from fruit is called_____. C

a. sucrose
b. lactose
c. fructose
d. maltose

What is another name for table sugar? (C)

a. fructose
b. glucose
c. sucrose
d. dextrose

These are all properties of a disaccharide EXCEPT: (D)

a. made up of two sugars
b. Sucrose
c. 2 monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis
d. ratio of 1:2:1

The carbohydrate known as milk sugar is also known by the common name: (C)
a. Sucrose
b. Fructose
c. Lactose
d. Galactose

What is a polysaccharide? (C)

a. A six-carbon sugar
b. A chemical that provides both energy and structure to plants.
c. A long-chain carbohydrate
d. A form of hydrolysis.

What does a polysaccharide do? (B) 2PTS

a. Provides a paste like substance to stick muscles together
b. Provides energy storage and structural support.
c. Is found in fungus and exoskeletons.
d. Is a polymer that only comes from animals.

What is an example of a structural polysaccharide? (A)

a. Cellulose
b. Amylose
c. Glucose
d. Fructose
In which of the following forms, glucose is stored in plants? (B)
a. Glycogen
b. Starch
c. Dextrin
d. Cellulose

Cellulose is similar in structure to what other polysaccharide? (A)

a. chitin
b. glucose
c. glycosaminoglycans
d. glycogen

Glucose is stored in plants as amylopectin granules and in animal tissues as glycogen granules. The two
homopolysaccharides are similar in linkages but differ in the degree of branching and in shapes of the
granules. Amylopectin usually forms large, single grains, while glycogen is usually present as smaller,
clustered granules resembling bunches of grapes. How does this structure of glycogen granules benefit
an animal? © 2 PTS
a. The glycogen granules are more resistant to oxidation
b. The glycogen granules find safety in numbers
c. The glycogen granules have more surface area and can be dissolved faster
d. Animals would actually be better off if their starch were stored as amylopectin because it would
be more resistant to chemical attack

In which of the following forms, glucose is stored in the liver? (A)

a. Glycogen
b. Starch
c. Dextrin
d. Cellulose

Which of the following are the structural polysaccharides? (C)

a. Glycogen
b. Starch
c. Chitin
d. Glucose

Which of these is not a homopolysaccharide? (B)

a. starch
b. glycosaminoglycans
c. cellulose
d. chitin

What are four common polysaccharides that are found in nature?

● Glycogen
● Cellulose
● Amylose
● Starch
● Chitin
● Glucose

What do starch, cellulose and glycogen all have in common? (A)

a. They are all composed of glucose
b. They are all used for energy
c. They are all monosaccharides
d. They are all located in plants

When all the monosaccharides in a polysaccharide are the same type as polysaccharide is called? (C)
a. Starch
b. Glycogen
 c. Homoglycan
d. Heteroglycan

Which of these cannot be digested by the enzymes in the human digestive system? (C)
a. Starch
b. Glycogen
c. Cellulose
d. Glucose

When all the monosaccharides in a polysaccharide are of different types, such type is called a? (D)
a. Starch
b. Glycogen
c. Homoglycan
d. Heteroglycan

Which of the following statements is true about the glycosidic bond? (D) 2 PTS
a. Glycosidic bond in maltose is not hydrolyzed in lactose intolerant humans.
b. Glycosidic bond in sucrose is hydrolyzed by bees
c. Glycosidic bond joins glucose and fructose to form sucrose
d. Both b and c

Which of the following statements is TRUE about the structure of Polysaccharides? (B) 2 PTS
a. All polysaccharides are formed by a different basic process: monosaccharides and disaccharides
are connected by glycosidic bonds.
b. All polysaccharides are formed by the same basic process: monosaccharides are connected by
glycosidic bonds.
c. The structure of the molecules being combined determine the function of the resulting
polysaccharide.
d. Both a and b

https://quizlet.com/511142887/biochemistry-carbohydrates-by-mhashi-biochem-ch-8-ch-9-lehninger-
biochem-chapter-10-multiple-choice-chapter-7-biochemistry-biochem-ch-6-old-test-3-june-2010-my-
test-2-quiz-1-cell-componen-flash-cards/