Kingdom Saudi Arabia ‫المملكة العربية السعودية‬

Ministry of Education ‫وزارة التعليم‬

University of Bishah ‫جامعة بيشة‬
Faculty of Medicine ‫كلية الطب‬

Biomedical Science 2

Chemistry of carbohydrates

Presenter. Dr. Khalil Abdullah.

Associate Professor of Biochemistry,
Dr. Azizah Salim.
Ph.D. Biochemistry
Mar,2022
Outline Carbohydrate's definition.
Structure of carbohydrates.

Classification of carbohydrates.

Functions of carbohydrates.
 Structure of carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates (also called
saccharides) are molecular
compounds made from three
elements: Carbon, Hydrogen 
and Oxygen.

 The general formula for

carbohydrates is Cn(H2O)n
Carbohydrate's definition

The aldehydic or ketonic derivatives

of polyhydroxy alcohols and their
polymers having hemiacetal
glycosidic linkages
Carbohydrates & Sugar
Carbohydrates are the main
source of energy in the body, Sucrose
Brain cells and RBCs. (cane sugar)
Fructose Lactose
Sugar is a generic name for (fruit sugar) (milk sugar)
carbohydrates which are sweet
Maltose
in taste, soluble in water and Glucose
(malt
char on heating. (Grape sugar) Sugar sugar)
  Cyclization of Glucose

 The Cyclization of Glucose occurs between

the aldehyde group on C1 and the OH group
on C5.
 Glucose forms a 6-member ring referred
as pyranose ring, two new stereo-isomers
are formed called anomers α and β.
 Classification of carbohydrates

Reducing sugar Non-reducing sugar

• Sugar that has a free aldehyde or
ketone that can act as a reducing
agent.
• Carbohydrates which reduce
Fehling solution to red ppt. of
Cu2​O
• Examples: Glucose, Fructose.
• Sugar does not have a free
aldehyde or ketone that can act
as a reducing agent.
• Carbohydrates which do not
reduce Fehling solution
• Examples: Sucrose.
 Classification of carbohydrates

• Single polyhydroxy. • Two

monosaccharide
Monosaccharides Disaccharides
s

Polysaccharides Oligosaccharides

• Polymers of • Three to ten

monosaccharide units. monosaccharide
units.
Defined as single polyhydroxy aldehyde
or ketone unit which cannot be broken Monosaccharides
down to simpler substances on acid
hydrolysis. Aldoses Ketoses
Containing aldehydic Containing ketonic
group as the functional group as the
functional group
group
Xylulose, Ribulose,
Fructose

Trioses Pentoses Hexoses

Tetroses
( C3H6O3 ) ( C5H10O5 )
( C4H8O4 ) ( C6H12O6 )
D-glyceraldehyde D-Ribose D-Glucose
D-Erythrose
Dihydroxy acetone D-Xylose D-Mannose
[aldotetrose] D-Fructose
[aldotriose] [aldopentose] [aldohexose] Monosaccharides
 Aldoses

[aldotetrose] [aldopentose] [aldohexose] [aldohexose] [aldohexose]

Monosaccharides
 ketoses

[ketopentose] [ketopentose] [ketohexose]

Monosaccharides
 Consist of two
monosaccharides joined by
a glycosidic linkage.

Maltose Sucrose

Lactose

Disaccharides
Disaccharides
Oligosaccharides
Oligosaccharides

Defined as carbohydrates that contains two to ten

monosaccharide units per molecule joined by
glycosidic linkages.

Depending upon the number of constituent

monosaccharide units, the oligosaccharides are called
disaccharides, trisaccharides, etc.
 The polymers of monosaccharide units which are joined in Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides
linear or branched chain fashion by glycosidic linkages.

Polysaccharides

Homopolysaccharides Heteropolysaccharides

Starch Cellulose Glycogen Dextrins

 Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides

Homopolysaccharides
Contain only one type of MS
units and on hydrolysis give only
one type of sugar
e.g., starch, cellulose, glycogen
etc.
Heteropolysaccharides
They are made up of mixed DS
repeating units and on hydrolysis
give a mixture of more than one
MS and their derivatives
e.g., hyaluronic acid, Heparin etc.
 Starch
Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides

Amylose Amylopectins

A linear unbranched molecule A branched chain molecule in

in which D-glucose units are which D-glucose units in addition to
linked by α–(1→4) glycosidic α-(1,4) linkages are branched by α-
linkages (1,6) glycosidic linkages.
α-amylases β-amylases
 Polysaccharides
Glycogen Polysaccharides

Is a highly branched chain molecule in which glucose

unit in addition to linear α-(1,4) linkages are also
linked by α-(1,6) and stored in liver and muscle.
Starch Glycogen
Plant origin Animal origin
Less branched, More branched,
the branching is after every 24 the branching is after every 8
to 30 glucose units to 10 glucose units
Blue color with iodine solution Red color with iodine solution
 Cellulose Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides

 A linear polymer of D-glucose units joined together

by β–(1,4) glycosidic linkages.

 Water insoluble, nonreducing and gives no color with

iodine.

 Cannot be utilized for energy purposes by human

beings, because the enzyme which cleavage β-(1,4)
linkage is missing.
 Protein

Skeletons for
some amino
acids

Structural
Structural
components
basis for DNA
of
and RNA
membranes

Functions of
carbohydrates
Structural
Basis of
basis for
intracellular
nucleosides
messenger
and
systems
nucleotides

Source of
energy to the
body
 Functions of carbohydrates

Intermediates in the synthesis of fats and proteins.

Participate in cell signaling/signal transduction.

Activate growth factors.

Help in modulation of immune system.

Participate in biological transport.

 Summary
 CHOs are aldehydic or ketonic derivatives of polyhydroxy
alcohols (Cn[H2O]n).
 All sugars are carbohydrates, but all carbohydrates are not
sugars.
 Glycogen and inulin are carbohydrates but not sugars.
 Monosaccharides/Oligosaccahrides/Polysaccharides.
 Reducing and Non-reducing.
 Diverse functions.
Biochemistry for students. VK
Malhotra, 12th edition. Pages
(19-21). (41-48).