BIOCHEMISTRY
1. explain carbohydrate nonmenclature (aldose vs. ketose and number of carbons, numbering of
carbons), including characterizations of chirality (optical isomers, enantiomers, diastereomers,
and epimers)
2.identify common and important disaccarides
3.distinguish all structural and biochemical similarities and differences between starch,
cellulose, and glycogen
4.what are fat soluble vitamins and what are their roles in the body
Solution
1. The monosaccharides are the simple sugar molecules with general formula (CH2O) n. They
are mainly composed of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Monosaccharides possess functional
groups such as aldehydes and ketones in their structure. Basing on the functional group present
they are named as aldose - that contains an aldehyde group, ketose - that contains a ketone group.
They also contain many hydroxyl groups. Hence, monosaccharides are called as polyhydroxy
aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones. A Hexose having ketone group is known as Ketohexose.
Fructose is an example of ketohexose. . Hexose with an aldehyde group is called as Aldohexose.
Example of an Aldohexose is Glucose.
A Triose is a monosaccharide having three carbon atoms in its skeleton. Glyceraldehyde is an
example of a triose.A Pentose is a monosaccharide having five carbon atoms in its structure.
Ribose is an example of a pentose. Both triose and pentose are monosaccharides differing in
number of carbon atoms in their skeleton.
The molecules having a Carbon atom bonded to four different functional groups are called
‘chiral molecules’. The center carbon atom is called chiral carbon. Any molecule having a chiral
carbon exists in a pair of enantiomers, which are nonsuperimposable mirror images. Stereo
isomers are the molecules having same molecular formula and same bonding but differ in spatial
arrangement of atoms. They are mirror images. They rotate the plane polarized light either to
clockwise or to counter clockwise. If they rotate the plane polarized light to clockwise, they are
called as ‘dextro rotatory’ (D forms) and are indicated by (+) sign. If they rotate the plane
polarized light to counter clockwise, they are called as ‘levo rotatory’ (L forms) and are indicated
by (-) sign.
Diastereomers can be defined as a pair of stereo isomers that are not enantiomers. This indicates
that the isomers are not mirror images and they totally differ from each other. Enantiomers
though nonsuperimposable mirror images they have same physical and chemical properties, they
differ only in rotation of plane polarized light. Diastereomers have different physical and
chemical properties.
2. The disaccharides are composed of two monosaccharide units. Maltose, Lactose and Sucrose
are the examples of disaccharides. These are referred by their common names like, Malt sugar,
Milk sugar and Table sugar. Galactose is a hexose molecule. It is one of the components of
disaccharide Lactose or milk sugar. It is found in the milk of mammals. -D - N -
acetylgalactosami.
BIOCHEMISTRY 1. explain carbohydrate nonmenclature (aldose vs. ket.pdf
1. BIOCHEMISTRY
1. explain carbohydrate nonmenclature (aldose vs. ketose and number of carbons, numbering of
carbons), including characterizations of chirality (optical isomers, enantiomers, diastereomers,
and epimers)
2.identify common and important disaccarides
3.distinguish all structural and biochemical similarities and differences between starch,
cellulose, and glycogen
4.what are fat soluble vitamins and what are their roles in the body
Solution
1. The monosaccharides are the simple sugar molecules with general formula (CH2O) n. They
are mainly composed of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen. Monosaccharides possess functional
groups such as aldehydes and ketones in their structure. Basing on the functional group present
they are named as aldose - that contains an aldehyde group, ketose - that contains a ketone group.
They also contain many hydroxyl groups. Hence, monosaccharides are called as polyhydroxy
aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones. A Hexose having ketone group is known as Ketohexose.
Fructose is an example of ketohexose. . Hexose with an aldehyde group is called as Aldohexose.
Example of an Aldohexose is Glucose.
A Triose is a monosaccharide having three carbon atoms in its skeleton. Glyceraldehyde is an
example of a triose.A Pentose is a monosaccharide having five carbon atoms in its structure.
Ribose is an example of a pentose. Both triose and pentose are monosaccharides differing in
number of carbon atoms in their skeleton.
The molecules having a Carbon atom bonded to four different functional groups are called
‘chiral molecules’. The center carbon atom is called chiral carbon. Any molecule having a chiral
carbon exists in a pair of enantiomers, which are nonsuperimposable mirror images. Stereo
isomers are the molecules having same molecular formula and same bonding but differ in spatial
arrangement of atoms. They are mirror images. They rotate the plane polarized light either to
clockwise or to counter clockwise. If they rotate the plane polarized light to clockwise, they are
called as ‘dextro rotatory’ (D forms) and are indicated by (+) sign. If they rotate the plane
polarized light to counter clockwise, they are called as ‘levo rotatory’ (L forms) and are indicated
by (-) sign.
Diastereomers can be defined as a pair of stereo isomers that are not enantiomers. This indicates
that the isomers are not mirror images and they totally differ from each other. Enantiomers
though nonsuperimposable mirror images they have same physical and chemical properties, they
2. differ only in rotation of plane polarized light. Diastereomers have different physical and
chemical properties.
2. The disaccharides are composed of two monosaccharide units. Maltose, Lactose and Sucrose
are the examples of disaccharides. These are referred by their common names like, Malt sugar,
Milk sugar and Table sugar. Galactose is a hexose molecule. It is one of the components of
disaccharide Lactose or milk sugar. It is found in the milk of mammals. -D - N -
acetylgalactosamine, a modified form of Galactose is found in blood group antigens.
3.
Polysaccharide is a polymer comprising many monosaccharide units joined as one or many
chains. They are two types - Homo and Hetero polysaccharides. Polysaccharides composed of
single monosaccharide units are called as Homo polysaccharides. Polysaccharides composed of
different monosaccharide units are called as Hetero polysaccharides. Starch, glycogen and
cellulose are the examples of Homo polysaccharides. Chondritine sulfate, Hyaluronic acid and
Heparin are the examples of Hetero polysaccharides.
Cellulose is a polysaccharide formed by the - D- Glucose units linked by (14) glycosidic
linkage. In an unbranched chain of Cellulose the (14) glycosidic linkages allow the cellulose
molecules to be arranged as straight chains.
Starch is a heterogenous polymer comprising of Amylose and Amylopectin. In a plant cell
Amylose comprises of 20%of Starch. The Glucose units in Amylose are joined by (14)
glycosidic bond. A single chain of Amylose may contain up to 4000 glucose units. Amylopectin
is highly branched Amylose. In this the Glucose molecules are joined by (16) glycosidic bond.
The main chain contains (14) glycosidic bonds and each branch may contain 20 - 25 Glucose
units.
4. Vitamins are the organic molecules with the unique chemical composition. They have a
specific role in the nutrition and metabolism. Deficiency of vitamins leads to metabolic
disorders. The vitamins are of two categories – fat soluble and water soluble vitamins. The fat
soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K. These are absorbed along with the fats in the gastrointestinal
tract and transported in the circulation and stored in liver.
Vitamin A is available in dairy products, fruits, vegetables and fortified foods. Some amounts of
vitamin A is absorbed as precursor and then converted into active form in the body. Vitamin A
occurs in three different forms. One form is part of photo receptor pigment in the retina of the
eye. It is concerned with the vision and deficiency of vitamin may cause night blindness. Other
forms of vitamin A play a role in maturation of epithelial cells, bone growth and reproductive
function.
Vitamin D is obtained in dairy foods and fortified foods. It is called sunshine vitamin because it
can be synthesized from cholesterol precursor in the skin by the action of sun light. The
3. intermediate compound form is carried to liver and kidneys and converted into active form.
Vitamin D deficiency causes impaired calcium deposition in growing bones of children and may
result in bending and bowing of poorly calcified bones. This condition is called rickets. In adults
deficiency of D vitamin may cause osteomalacia.
Vitamin E is a component of vegetable oils and is very essential for reproduction. It is called as
tocopherol and is a rich antioxidant. Deficiency of vitamin E may inactivate the potentiality of
cell to damage toxic molecules or impairs antioxidant activity.
Vitamin K is coagulation vitamin and influences to activate other coagulation factors of the
blood. The vitamin K compounds are known are quinones and are found in green leafy
vegetables, vegetable oils, liver meat and fish products. Vitamin K2 or menaquinone is
synthesized in intestines by intestinal bacteria. Deficiency of vitamin K impairs fat digestion or
absorption and blood coagulation