Carbohydrates: Classes and Functions

Carbohydrates

Hydrates of Carbon Chemical Composition : (CH2O)nPolyhydroxy aldehydes and ketones

- most abundant class of organic compounds found in living organisms

- major source of metabolic energy

Classes• Monosaccharides

mono – ‘one’ saccharide – ‘sugar’simplest units of carbohydratessimplest form of sugarcomposed of C, H, O in ratios of 1:2:1 respectively are formed by only one polyhydroxy aldehydeidic or ketonic unit

• Monosaccharides

Glucose: the main sugar metabolized by the body for energy an important energy source

sources: starch, the major storage form of carbohydrate in plants

Fructose is a structural isomer of glucose it has the same chemical formula but a completely

different 3-dimensional structuresources: fructose include fruit, honey and high-fructose corn syrup

Ribose is a water-soluble pentose sugar (5 C atoms) primarily seen as D-ribose that is an important component

of nucleic acid, nucleotides , the vitamin riboflavin, and various co-enzymes

Ribose

• Disaccharides "two sugars“commonly found in nature as sucrose, lactose and

maltose formed by a condensation reaction where one

molecule of water condenses or is released during the joining of two monosaccharides

glycosidic bond - bond that is formed between the two sugars

• Disaccharides

• Polysaccharides

glycancomplex carbohydrates consists of more than 2 monosaccharides

linked together covalently by glycosidic linkages in a condensation reaction

monomers which consist of thousands of repeating glucose units

• Polysaccharides

Providing energy and regulating blood glucose

Functions

glucose is the only sugar used by the body to provide energy for its tissues

all digestible polysaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharides must eventually be converted into glucose or a metabolite of glucose by various liver enzymes

Because of its significant importance to proper cellular function, blood glucose levels must be kept relatively constant hormones of importance in glucose regulation:

-epinephrine mimics the effects of glucagon while;-cortisol mobilizes glucose during periods of

emotional stress or exercise

Sparing the use of proteins for energyprovides energy for working musclesprovides fuel for the central nervous system,

enabling fat metabolism, and preventing protein from being used as energy

source of energy or fuel for muscle contraction and biologic work

body uses carbohydrates for energy instead of proteins

carbohydrates break down into glucose(cell’s energy source) in your body

protein breakdown may result in an increased stress on the kidneys, where protein byproducts are excreted into the urine

Breakdown of fatty acids and preventing ketosis

Glucagons vs. Insulin Gluconeogenesis vs. Glycolysis What is ketosis? and how does it happen Detection and Prevention

Urine analysis Prevention

Keeping track of sugar Eating regularly

Flavor and Sweeteners

provides sweetness to foods

nutritive sweeteners not only impart flavor to the food,

but can also be metabolized for energy(sucrose, glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, and lactose)

alternative sweetenersprovide no food energy

(saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, and acesulfame)

Dietary fiber

vital for intestinal health eases waste elimination prevents intestinal diseases (eg. colon cancer) absorption of glucose is slowed Serum cholesterol levels are controlled

Thank you!

1. What is the general chemical equation for the production of carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide?

2. What is the most abundant class of organic compounds found in living organisms?

3. What is the simplest form of sugar?

Assessment

Assessment

4. Draw the chemical structure of glucose.

5. What is the only sugar used by the body to provide energy for its tissues?

6. What is broken down to make glucose if you burn through your stored carbohydrates?

7&8. What are the two kinds of sweeteners?

9&10. what are the two hormones of importance in glucose regulation?

Assessment