BIOB111 SN11 Lecture Carbohydrates– Examples: Glucose Two sugar unit compound Glucose Glucose...
Transcript of BIOB111 SN11 Lecture Carbohydrates– Examples: Glucose Two sugar unit compound Glucose Glucose...
BIOCHEMISTRY
Carbohydrates
BIOB111
CHEMISTRY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Session 11
Key concepts: session 11From this session you are expected to develop an understanding of the following concepts:
Concept 1: Classes of carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
Concept 2: Interpreting the names of simple carbohydrates
Concept 3: Location of the functional groups in an aldoses and ketoses
Concept 4: Cyclic and acyclic sugar structures
Concept 5: Glycosidic bonds
Concept 6: Breaking down multi-subunit sugars
Concept 7: Cellulose in the diet
Concept 8: Digestion of polysaccharides vs disaccharides/monosaccharides
Concept 9: Glycogen
These concepts are covered in the Conceptual multiple choice questions of tutorial 11
Session OverviewPart 1: Monosaccharides
• Classes of carbohydrates
• Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Monosaccharide: glucose
• Monosaccharide: galactose
• Monosaccharide: fructose
• Monosaccharides in DNA and RNA
• Cyclic monosaccharides
Part 2: Disaccharides
• Glycosidic bond
• Digestion of dietary carbohydrates
• Disaccharide: Maltose
• Disaccharide: Lactose
• Disaccharide: Sucrose
Part 3: Polysaccharides
• Digestible vs non-digestible polysaccharides
• Polysaccharide: glycogen
Part 1: Monosaccharides
• Classes of carbohydrates
• Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Monosaccharide: glucose
• Monosaccharide: galactose
• Monosaccharide: fructose
• Monosaccharides in DNA and RNA
• Cyclic monosaccharides
Functional groups in carbohydrates
Classes of carbohydrates
• Plants produce carbohydrates via photosynthesis
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/a-leaf-1488203
• Plants utilise carbohydrates for:
– Structural support (e.g. cellulose)
– Energy (e.g. glucose and starch)
Classes of carbohydrates
Functions of Carbohydrates:
• Can be metabolised to generate energy for plants and animals
• Form supportive structures in plants (cellulose),
insects and crustaceans (chitin)
• Provide short-term energy storage in plants (starch) and humans (glycogen)
• Carbohydrates are:– Important components of DNA and RNA molecules
– Structural components of cell membranes (glycolipids)
– Involved in cell–cell and cell–molecule recognition processes (glycoproteins)
Classes of carbohydrates
Glucose
Single sugar unit
Glucose Glucose
Two sugar unit compound
Many, many sugar unit compound
Monosaccharide:
A single unit sugar is a monosaccharide
Disaccharide: A compound made up
of two sugar units is a disaccharide
Polysaccharide: A compound consisting of Between 100 and 1 million sugar units is a polysaccharide
Classes of carbohydrates
Monosaccharide: A single unit sugar is a monosaccharide– Examples:
– Functions:• Monosaccharides connect together via glyosidic bonds to create multi-unit sugars
(disaccharides and polysaccharides)
• Monosaccharides can be metabolised by humans to generate ATP (cellular energy)
Glucose
Single sugar unit
Glucose Fructose Galactose
Classes of carbohydrates Glucose
Disaccharide: A compound made up of two sugar units is a disaccharide– Examples:
Glucose
Two sugar unit compound
Glucose Glucose Glucose GlucoseGalactose Fructose
Maltose Lactose Sucrose
– Functions:• In a disaccharide, the two sugar units are connect via a glyosidic bond
• Disaccharides can be broken down into two individual monosaccharides– The monosaccharides can be metabolised to generate ATP (cellular energy)
Classes of carbohydrates
Polysaccharide: A compound consisting of between
100 and 1 million sugar units
Examples:
Many, many sugar unit compound
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/baked-potatoes-1532388
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/a-leaf-1488203
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/the-bug-1180812
Starch Cellulose Chitin GlycogenGlycogen is an energy storage compound that is found in the liver and muscle
Glycogen is broken down into glucose units at the beginning of a run to provide quick energy generation
Cellulose provides structural support to plants
Chitin is found in the exoskeletons of insects
Potatoes are a starch rich food
Starch is made up of many glucose units which are slowly released into the blood as digestion occurs
Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Straight-chain monosaccharides contain many alcohol groups
– The straight-chain monosaccharides contain either a single ketone or aldehyde group
– Monosaccarides that contain the aldehyde functional group are called Aldoses
– Example: Aldohexose is a 6 carbon monosaccharide with an aldehyde functional group
– Monosaccarides that contain the ketone functional group are called ketoses
– Example: Ketopentose is a 5 carbon monosaccharide with a ketone functional group
Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Where is the non-alcohol functional group located in the compound?
At the top of the compound
• What is the non-alcohol functional group present in the compound?
The aldehyde functional group
• Is the carbohydrate an aldose or a ketose?
The monosaccharide is an aldose (contains the aldehyde functional group)– The compound contains 6 carbons
– The compound is glucose
Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Where is the non-alcohol functional group located in the compound?
Near the top compound between two carbon atoms
• What is the non-alcohol functional group present in the compound?
The ketone functional group
• What class of carbohydrates does the compound belong to?
The monosaccharide is a ketose (contains the ketonefunctional group)– The compound contains 6 carbons
– The compound is fructose
Straight-chain monosaccharides
• Some compounds including glucose can exist either in
a right-handed (D) or left-handed (L) isomer
– Both the L and D isomers are called stereoisomers
– Stereoisomers are the mirror image of each other at a specific position within the compound
The right handed isomer
is called the D isomer
– Dextrorotatory compound:
A chiral compound that
rotates the plane of
polarized light clockwise
(to the right)
The left handed isomer is called the L isomer
– Levorotatory compound: A chiral compound that rotates the plane of polarized light counterclockwise (to the left)
Right-hand sideLeft-hand side
D-Glucose L-Glucose
Note: L-glucose is not found in nature but can be created in
the laboratory
Attempt Socrative questions: 1 to 4
Google Socrative and go to the student login
Room name:
City name followed by 1 or 2 (e.g. PERTH1)
1 for 1st session of the week and 2 for 2nd session of the week
Monosaccharide: glucose• Straight chain D-glucose is an aldohexose
– Contains an aldehyde functional group and six carbon atoms
– D-glucose is the most abundant monosaccharide in nature
D-Glucose
• The body relies on glucose to perform many metabolic reactions including glycolysis– Metabolic reactions are required to generate cellular
energy (ATP)
– Carbohydrate containing foods are the body’s main source of glucose
• The body can make glucose from pyruvate and oxaloacetate using gluconeogenesis
Glucose
Monosaccharide: glucose
• The level of glucose in the blood (blood glucose)
must be maintained within a fine range:
3.5 – 5.5 mmol/L of blood
– The blood glucose level is maintained by the hormone
pair insulin and glucagon
D-Glucose
• Glucose is delivered to the organs and tissues via
the blood to allow the cells to generate energy
– The brain is very dependent on glucose as it cannot
create energy from lipid (fats and oils)
Glucose
Monosaccharide: glucose
• Insulin
– Insulin functions to bring glucose into the cell from the blood
• Insulin assists in lowering the blood glucose level when the blood glucose level is high
– Insulin promotes metabolic reactions that use glucose
• Glucagon
– Glucagon functions to
move glucose out of the
cells into the blood
• Glucagon assists in
increasing the blood
glucose level when the
blood glucose level is
low
– Glucagon promotes
metabolic reactions that
make glucose
Cell
Blood
G
Insulin
G
Glucagon
G = Glucose
G
G
Monosaccharide: galactoseGalactose
D-Galactose D-Glucose
• Straight chain D-galactose is an aldohexose just like glucose
– Contains an aldehyde functional group and six carbon atoms
– Only difference between galactose and glucose is the position of one alcohol group
Monosaccharide: galactoseGalactose
• D-Galactose is a component of the
glycoprotein responsible for the ABO
blood groups
– The glycoprotein is present on the outside
of the red blood cells (RBCs)
– If an individual who has type A blood was
given type B blood, the individuals immune
system would attack the new RBCs
• The B antigens on the RBCs are recognised
by the immune system as non-self
Monosaccharide: fructose
• Straight-chain D-Fructose is a
Ketohexose
– Contains a ketone functional group
and six carbon atoms
D-Fructose
Fructose
Monosaccharide: fructose
• D-Fructose is the sweetest tasting sugar
– Found in fruit and honey within the disaccharide sucrose
• Sucrose contains one fructose and one glucose
• D-Fructose cannot be stored by the body
– Fructose is metabolised by the liver
– Excess fructose can cause the accumulation of fat (triacylglycerol in the liver)
• Occurs via the lipogenesis pathway
Fructose
Glucose Fructose
Sucrose
Monosaccharides in DNA and RNA
• Both DNA and RNA contains sugar units
(monosaccharides)
– A single unit of DNA and RNA is called a nucleotide
• A nucleotide contains:
– One sugar (ribose or deoxyribose)
– A nitrogen containing base
– A phosphate (polyatomic ion)
Monosaccharides in DNA and RNA
Sugar present in DNADeoxyribose
Sugar present in RNARibose
Contains one less oxygen atom than the ribose sugar
Cyclic monosaccharides
• Monosaccharides with 5 or more carbon atoms
can exist in either a:
– Straight-chain structure
– Cyclic structure
Straight-chain D-Glucose
Cyclic D-Glucose
Cyclic monosaccharides
Straight-chain D-Fructose
Straight-chain D-Glucose
Cyclic D-Glucose
Cyclic D-Fructose
KetoneEther
Ether
Aldehyde
• Straight-chain sugars lose their aldehyde and ketone functional groups when they become cyclical sugars
– Cyclical sugars contain the ether functional group
Part 1: Monosaccharides
• Classes of carbohydrates
– Single sugar units are called monosaccharides
– Disaccharides contain two sugar units connected together
– Polysaccharides contain between 100 and 1 million connected sugar units
• Straight-chain monosaccharides
– Aldoses contain the aldehyde functional group
– Ketoses contain the ketone functional group
– Straight-chain monosaccharides can exist as either an L or D-isomer, with the L-isomer being
the left-handed version and the D-isomer the right-handed version
• Monosaccharide: glucose
– Straight-chain glucose is a six carbon containing aldose sugar
– The body relies on glucose to generate cellular energy via metabolic pathways
– The hormones insulin and glucagon maintain the level of glucose in the blood within a
specific range
– Insulin lowers the blood glucose level by moving glucose out of the blood into the cells
– Glucagon increases the blood glucose level by moving glucose out of the cells into the blood
Part 1: Monosaccharides
• Monosaccharide: galactose– Straight-chain galactose is a six carbon containing aldose sugar which
has a very similar structure to glucose
– Galactose is present within the antigens on our red blood cells
responsible for the ABO blood group system
• Monosaccharide: fructose– Straight-chain fructose is a six carbon containing ketose sugar
– Fructose is the sweetest sugar
Part 1: Monosaccharides
• Monosaccharides in DNA and RNA– Each individual unit of DNA and RNA is called a nucleotide
– Each nucleotide contains either a ribose or deoxyribose sugar
– The only difference between ribose and deoxyribose is that
deoxyribose contains one less oxygen atom
• Cyclic monosaccharides– Monosaccharides with 5 or more carbons can exist as either a cyclic
or straight-chain structure
– Cyclic sugars contain the ether functional group instead of an
aldehyde or ketone functional group (present in straight-chain sugars)
Part 2: Disaccharides
• Glycosidic bond
• Digestion of dietary carbohydrates
• Disaccharide: Maltose
• Disaccharide: Lactose
• Disaccharide: Sucrose
Glycosidic bond
• Glyosidic bond formation– Two cyclic monosaccharide sugar units connect together in a chemical reaction,
where an alcohol group from one unit reacts with an alcohol group from the other unit:
• Alcohol + alcohol → ether
– The ether functional group connects the two monosaccharides together to form a disaccharide
+O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
OO
OH
OH
CH2OH
+O
HH
Glucose Glucose Maltose H2O
Glycosidic bond
Glycosidic bond
+O
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Glucose
O
HH
H OH
Glycosidic bond connecting the two
glucose units together
Maltose disaccharide
Animation of glycosidic bond formation
Ether
Digestion of dietary carbohydratesDietary carbohydrates
STARCHSUCROSELACTOSEMALTOSE
ONLY MONOSACCHARIDES ARE ABSORBED INTO THE BLOOD VIA
THE SMALL INTESTINE
TRAFFICKED TO THE LIVER CELLS TO BE
METABOLISED INTO CELLULAR ENERGY (ATP)
MONOSACCHARIDES: GLUCOSE, FRUCTOSE
AND GALACTOSE
Common dietary carbs
Digestive enzymes facilitate the breakdown of the dietary carbs into monosaccharides by breaking the glycosidic bonds which connect
their sugar units
Glucose, galactose and
fructose TRAFFICKED TO OTHER CELL TYPES INCLUDING
THE BRAIN AND MUSCLE TO BE
METABOLISED INTO CELLULAR ENERGY (ATP)
Glucose
Disaccharide: MaltoseD-maltose = D-glucose + D-glucose
• Two glucose units connected via a glycosidic bond forms maltose
• Maltose is produced during the breakdown of starch
in the digestive system
Glucose Glucose
Maltose
Disaccharide: MaltoseD-maltose = D-glucose + D-glucose
• Maltose is broken down into two glucose units in a chemical reaction facilitated by the maltase enzyme
– The maltase enzyme is present in the small intestine
• Once maltose has been broken down into two glucose units in the small intestine:
– The glucose is absorbed into the blood and trafficked to cells for metabolism
O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
OO
OH
OH
CH2OH
+O
HH
Maltose H2O
+O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Glucose
Maltase
Disaccharide: Maltose
OO
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Glucose
O
HH
HO
H
Maltose disaccharide
Animation of the breakdown of maltose
One alcohol functional group created on each glucose unit
Disaccharide: Lactose
D-Lactose = D-Galactose + D-Glucose
• The galactose and glucose units within lactose
are connected via a glycosidic bond
• Lactose is commonly found in milk
Glucose Galactose
Lactose
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/milk-and-cookies-1545267
Disaccharide: Lactose
D-Lactose = D-Galactose + D-Glucose
• Lactose is broken down into one galactose and one glucose in a chemical reaction facilitated by the lactase enzyme
– The lactase enzyme is present in the small intestine
• Once lactose has been broken down into one galactose and one glucose in the small intestine:– The monosaccharides are absorbed into the blood and trafficked to the liver cells for metabolism
+O
HH
Lactose H2O
+O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Galactose
Lactase
O OH
OH
OH
CH2OH
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
OO OH
OH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Disaccharide: Lactose
OO
OH
HO
OH
CH2OH
O
OHOH
OH
CH2OH
Galactose Glucose
O
HH
HO
H
Lactose disaccharide
Animation of the breakdown of lactose
An extra alcohol functional group is created on galactose
and glucose
Lactose intolerance:
Individuals who produce less lactase enzyme (in the small intestine)
do not breakdown lactose efficiently
– For a lactose intolerant person, some lactose will pass through the small intestine undigested
• In the large intestine bacteria breakdown the lactose producing lactic acid and gas which cause
cramping, nausea and diarrhea
+O
HH
Lactose H2O
+O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Galactose
Low amount of
LactaseO OH
OH
OH
CH2OH
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
OO
OH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Limited conversion of lactose into
monosaccharides
– Causes of reduced amount of lactase enzyme:
• Genetic mutation in the gene that produces the lactase enzyme
• Injuries to intestinal mucosa where the lactase enzyme is produced
OH
Disaccharide: SucroseD-Sucrose = D-Fructose + D-Glucose
• The fructose and glucose units within sucrose are connected via a glycosidic bond
• Sucrose is the sweetest sugar found in fruit and honey– Table sugar is made up of sucrose
• The body cannot store fructose so it must be metabolised by the liver– Some of the fructose is converted into:
• Glucose
• Triacylglycerol (Fat)
Glucose Fructose
Sucrose
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/salt-n-pepper-n-sugar-1555673
Disaccharide: Sucrose
D-Sucrose = D-Fructose + D-Glucose
• Sucrose is broken down into one fructose and one glucose in a chemical reaction facilitated by the sucrase enzyme
– The sucrase enzyme is present in the small intestine
• Once sucrose has been broken down into one fructose and one glucose in the small intestine:– The monosaccharides are absorbed into the blood and trafficked to the liver cells for metabolism
+O
HH
Sucrose H2O
+O
OHOH
HO
OH
CH2OH
Glucose Fructose
SucraseO
OHOH
CH2OH
HO
CH2OH
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
O
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
HO
CH2OH
Disaccharide: Sucrose
HO
OO
OH
OH
CH2OH
FructoseGlucose
O
HH
HO
H
Sucrose disaccharide
Animation of the breakdown of sucrose
An extra alcohol functional group is created on fructose
and glucose
O
OHHO
OH
CH2OH
HO
CH2OH
Describe the chemical reaction where one
glucose and one fructose connect together to form the
disaccharide sucrose.
Can the glycosidic bond that connects the two
monosaccharides within sucrose be broken? If so how?
Why might it be useful to break sucrose down
into two individual monosaccharide units?
Key concept: Formation and breakage of glycosidic bonds
Attempt Socrative questions: 5 to 7
Google Socrative and go to the student login
Room name:
City name followed by 1 or 2 (e.g. PERTH1)
1 for 1st session of the week and 2 for 2nd session of the week
Part 2: Disaccharides
• Glycosidic bond– A glycosidic bond is formed between two sugar units in a chemical
reaction, allowing two individual sugar units to form one compound (a disaccharide)
– To form a glycosidic bond there is a reaction between two alcohol groups in two different sugar units
– Once a glycosidic bond has formed, an ether functional group is present at the location of the glycosidic bond
• Digestion of dietary carbohydrates– Digestive enzymes facilitate the breakdown of dietary carbohydrates by
cleaving the glycosidic bonds which connect sugar units together– Only monosaccharides can be absorbed by the small intestine into the
blood– Once in the blood, monosaccharides are delivered to specific cell types to
be metabolised into cellular energy (ATP)
Part 2: Disaccharides
• Disaccharide: Maltose– Maltose is made up of two glucose units connect by a glycosidic bond– The maltase enzyme facilitates the breakdown of maltose into two individual
glucose units
• Disaccharide: Lactose– Lactose is made up of one galactose and one glucose connect by a glycosidic
bond– The lactase enzyme facilitates the breakdown of lactose into one galactose and
one glucose– Lactose intolerant individuals produce less lactase enzyme, so they are less
efficient at breaking down lactose during digestion
• Disaccharide: Sucrose– Sucrose is made up of one fructose and one glucose connect by a glycosidic bond– The sucrase enzyme facilitates the breakdown of sucrose into one fructose and
one glucose– Table sugar is made up of sucrose
Part 3: Polysaccharides
• Digestible vs non-digestible polysaccharides
• Polysaccharide: glycogen
Many, many sugar unit compound
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/baked-potatoes-1532388
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/a-leaf-1488203
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/the-bug-1180812
Starch Cellulose Chitin GlycogenGlycogen is an energy storage compound that is found in the liver and muscle
Glycogen is broken down into glucose units at the beginning of a run to provide quick energy generation
Cellulose provides structural support to plants
Chitin is found in the exoskeletons of insects
Potatoes are a starch rich food
Starch is made up of many glucose units which are slowly released into the blood as digestion occurs
Digestible vs non-digestible
polysaccharides
Polysaccharide: A compound made up of 100 to 1 million sugar units is a polysaccharide– Examples: Starch, glycogen, cellulose and chitin
Digestible vs non-digestible
polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are contain many, many monosaccharide units connected via glycosidic linkages
• Distinctive features of different polysaccharides:
– The identity of the monosaccharide monomer within the polysaccharide
– Length of chain varies from few hundred sugar units
up to 1 million sugar units
– Degree of chain branching with the polysaccharide
Many, many sugar unit compound
Digestible vs non-digestible polysaccharidesCELLULOSE
CELLULOSE PASSES THROUGH THE MOUTH, STOMACH AND SMALL
INTESTINE UNDIGESTED
POLYSACCARIDE COMPOSED OF
MANY CONNECTED GLUCOSE UNITS
NO NUTRITIONAL VALUE FROM CELLULOSE AS IT CANNOT BE ABSORBED
BY THE SMALL INTESTINE
After eating a cellulose
containing food
CELLULOSE ENTERS THE LARGE INTESTINE
WHERE IT ASSISTS WITH EXCRETION OF SOLID
WASTE
THE BODY LACKS THE ENZYME REQUIRED TO
BREAKDOWN CELLULOSE INTO INVIDUAL GLUCOSE
UNITS
Definition
Why?
Consequence
Consequence
Digestible vs non-digestible polysaccharides
STARCH
α-AMYLASE ENZYME BREAKS DOWN STARCH INTO MANY GLUCOSE
UNITS
POLYSACCARIDE COMPOSED OF
MANY CONNECTED GLUCOSE UNITS
GLUCOSE UNITS DERIVED FROM STARCH ARE ABSORBED BY THE SMALL INTESTINE
After eating a starch containing food
Definition
Consequence
TRAFFICKED TO OTHER CELL TYPES INCLUDING THE LIVER, BRAIN AND
MUSCLE TO BE METABOLISED INTO
CELLULAR ENERGY (ATP)
Glucose
DIGESTABLE
POLYSACCHARIDES
POLYSACCHARIDES CONTAIN MANY
GLYCOSIDIC BONDS
SLOW ABSORPTION OF THE MONOSACCHARIDES RELEASED FROM THE
POLYSACCHARIDE DURING DIGESTION
DISACCHARIDES AND
MONOSACCHARIDES
DISACCHARIDES CONTAIN ONE GLYCOSIDIC BOND AND
MONOSACCHARIDES CONTAIN NO GLYCOSIDIC BONDS
FAST ABSORPTION OF MONOSACCHARIDES AND
DISACCHARIDES DURING DIGESTION
MANY GLYCOSIDIC BONDS TO BREAK
WITHIN THE POLYSACCHARIDE
FEW OR NO GLYCOSIDIC
BONDS TO BREAK
SLOW RELEASE OF GLUCOSE INTO THE BLOOD
FAST RELEASE OF GLUCOSE INTO
THE BLOOD, CAUSING A SPIKE
Due to
Due to
Polysaccharide: glycogen
• Glycogen is a polysaccharide consisting of up to
1 million glucose units
– In humans glycogen is stored in the liver and muscle
– When required glycogen is broken down into glucose units which can be metabolised to generate ATP
Polysaccharide: glycogen– Excess glucose in the blood, after digestion of dietary carbohydrates,
results in the production of glycogen (glycogenesis)
• Glycogen functions as a glucose storage component
– A low blood glucose level stimulates the breakdown of glycogen
into individual glucose units (glycogenolysis)
• Glucose units can then be metabolised into cellular energy (ATP)
Glycogen1 million
glucose units
Glycogenesis
Glycogenolysis
ATP generation
from glucose
Glucose storage
in the liver and muscle
Why can humans digest starch but not cellulose?
Why is it necessary to breakdown dietary carbohydrates
into monosaccharides during digestion?
If there is excess glucose after digestion,
what will the excess glucose be used for?
Key concept: digestible vs non-digestible carbohydrates
Attempt Socrative questions: 8 to 10
Google Socrative and go to the student login
Room name:
City name followed by 1 or 2 (e.g. PERTH1)
1 for 1st session of the week and 2 for 2nd session of the week
Part 3: Polysaccharides
• Digestible vs non-digestible polysaccharides– Cellulose cannot be digested by humans, as humans lack the enzyme required
to break the glycosidic bonds present in cellulose– Cellulose provides no nutritional value to humans but it does help with excretion of solid
waste– Starch can be digested by humans, as humans have the α-amylase enzyme required to
break the glycosidic bonds present in starch– The glucose units released from the digestion of starch are trafficked to cells (via the blood) to
generate cellular energy (ATP)– The more glycosidic bonds a sugar contains the slower it is digested– Starch is digested slowly and consequently releases glucose into the blood slowly– Disaccharides and monosaccharides are digested quickly and can cause the blood glucose
level to increase rapidly
• Polysaccharide: glycogen– Glycogen is a polysaccharide consisting of up to 1 million glucose units– Glycogen is stored in the liver and muscle– Glycogen is created from glucose when glucose is in excess (glycogenesis)– Glycogen is broken down into glucose when blood glucose is low (glycogenolysis)
Readings & Resources• Stoker, HS 2014, General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, 7th edn,
Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, Belmont, CA.
• Stoker, HS 2004, General, Organic and Biological Chemistry, 3rd edn, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA.
• Timberlake, KC 2014, General, organic, and biological chemistry: structures of life, 4th edn, Pearson, Boston, MA.
• Alberts, B, Johnson, A, Lewis, J, Raff, M, Roberts, K & Walter P 2008, Molecular biology of the cell, 5th edn, Garland Science, New York.
• Berg, JM, Tymoczko, JL & Stryer, L 2012, Biochemistry, 7th edn, W.H. Freeman, New York.
• Dominiczak, MH 2007, Flesh and bones of metabolism, Elsevier Mosby, Edinburgh.
• Tortora, GJ & Derrickson, B 2014, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 14th edn, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.
• Tortora, GJ & Grabowski, SR 2003, Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 10th edn, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY.
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