BSC 2010C Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Covalent Bond, Monosaccharide, Polysaccharide
Document Summary
Carbohydrates are organic macromolecules that are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. These molecules serve as a major source of energy for living organisms and are also involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling and structural support. The simplest carbohydrate is a monosaccharide, which is a single sugar molecule such as glucose, fructose, or galactose. These monosaccharides can combine to form larger, more complex carbohydrates called polysaccharides through condensation reactions. During these reactions, a molecule of water is removed, and a covalent bond is formed between the two monosaccharides. Polysaccharides can serve a variety of functions in cells. Starch, for example, is a polysaccharide that is used by plants to store glucose for energy. Glycogen is a similar polysaccharide that is used by animals to store glucose. Both starch and glycogen are composed of many glucose monomers joined together in a long chain.