Triose (n=3) e.g. glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone
Pentose (n=5
2-deoxyribose, ribose
Hexoses (n=6)
Glucose, fructose
Structure
Carbonyl group (C=0)
Located in the middle
of the ketose molecule
and end of the aldose
molecule
Carbon 1 = at the end
closest to the carbonyl
group
Anomeric carbon -
carbon attached to the
original carbonyl group
in cyclic form
Isomers
Aldose and ketone
Aldose
contains the aldehyde groups
(-CH=O)
Adloses with three or more carbon isomers exhibit stereoisomerism
same molecule that differs in dimensional orientations of their
atoms in space affecting properties of the molecule
Ketone
contains the fructose groups
Different molecules with
same chemical formula
Galactose, mannose and glucose
D vs. L form
Isomeric forms
D-sugar is most common biologically
Ring formation
In aqueous solution, the aldehyde or
ketone group tend to react with a
hydroxyl group of the same
molecule, closing the molecule into
a ring structure
Alpha and beta forms
Hydroxyl group (-OH) of the carbon that carriers
the aldehyde or ketone group can rapidly change
from one position to another
Alpha form: hydroxyl group is facing up
Beta form: hydroxyl group is facing down
Biological functions
Sugars function in short-term fuel for
muscle, brain kidney, etc.
Function as energy forces or
energy storage in the form of
glucose and glycogen
respectively
Digestion of alpha-amylase results in the random
hydrolysis of internal alpha 1>4 linkages in the glycogen
molecule
Pancreatic alpha-amylase mixture of mono and
disaccharides continues hydrolysis of internal linkages
Maltase produces glucose and can be
absorbed into intestinal mucosal cells
In the liver, glucose phosphorylase hydrolyses terminal alpha (1>4) to
produce glucose-1- phosphate
Structurally part of cell walls in the bacteria (peptidoglycan)
Proteins on the cell surface are often glycosylated (e.g. ABO blood groups and IgG)
Pathology
Lactose intolerance
Anotações:
Normally lactose is broken down into galactose and glucose
When lactose remains undigested, it can be digested by bacteria in the large intestine producing excess CO2 and other metabolites > bloating and diarrhoea
Disaccharides
Sucrose
glucose + fructose
Maltose
glucose + glucose
Galactose
glucose + galactose
Polysaccharides
Glycogen (branched glucose
polymer)
Stored form
Linear glucose polymer (alpha
1>4)
Alpha (1>6) branches
Amylose (linear glucose polymer)
Glycosidic bond formation
Gycosyltransferase via a dehydration (condensation)
reaction