BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are one of the macromolecules which contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only with a ratio
1:2:1.This can be written as CnH2nOn, where n corresponds to the number of carbon atoms. The term
carbohydrate comes from the Latin word saccharum which means sugar.
Carbohydrates are classified either as simple or complex. Simple sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Complex sugars are polysaccharides.
Carbohydrates are the primary energy source of the human body. The different saccharides that humans eat are
converted to glucose which can be readily used by the body. Around 4 kilocalories is derived from one gram of
carbohydrate. Should there be an excessive consumption of carbohydrates, the excess is converted to glycogen
which is stored in the liver and in muscles. Glycogen is a slow-releasing carbohydrate.
MONOSACCHARIDE (ONE SACCHARIDE)
Glucose
Used in dextrose, blood sugar; the form utilized by the human body
Galactose
Found in milk and milk products
Fructose
Found in fruits and honey
DISACCHARIDE (TWO SACCHARIDES)
Maltose
Glucose + Glucose
Found in malt
Sucrose
Glucose + Fructose
Found in regular table sugar, sugarcane, and sugar beet
Lactose
Glucose + Galactose
Found in milk and milk products
Individual saccharides are connected via glycosidic bonds. A water molecule is released when two saccharides are
combined.
POLYSACCHARIDE (MANY SACCHARIDES)
Starch / Amylose
Composed of 250 - 400 glucose molecules connected via α-1-4- glycosidic bond.
Storage form of glucose in plants
Amylopectin
Like amylose but has more branches attached via α-1-6 glycosidic bond
Storage form of glucose in plants
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are one of the macromolecules which contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen only with a ratio
1:2:1.This can be written as CnH2nOn, where n corresponds to the number of carbon atoms. The term
carbohydrate comes from the Latin word saccharum which means sugar.
Carbohydrates are classified either as simple or complex. Simple sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides.
Complex sugars are polysaccharides.
Carbohydrates are the primary energy source of the human body. The different saccharides that humans eat are
converted to glucose which can be readily used by the body. Around 4 kilocalories is derived from one gram of
carbohydrate. Should there be an excessive consumption of carbohydrates, the excess is converted to glycogen
which is stored in the liver and in muscles. Glycogen is a slow-releasing carbohydrate.
MONOSACCHARIDE (ONE SACCHARIDE)
Glucose
Used in dextrose, blood sugar; the form utilized by the human body
Galactose
Found in milk and milk products
Fructose
Found in fruits and honey
DISACCHARIDE (TWO SACCHARIDES)
Maltose
Glucose + Glucose
Found in malt
Sucrose
Glucose + Fructose
Found in regular table sugar, sugarcane, and sugar beet
Lactose
Glucose + Galactose
Found in milk and milk products
Individual saccharides are connected via glycosidic bonds. A water molecule is released when two saccharides are
combined.
POLYSACCHARIDE (MANY SACCHARIDES)
Starch / Amylose
Composed of 250 - 400 glucose molecules connected via α-1-4- glycosidic bond.
Storage form of glucose in plants
Amylopectin
Like amylose but has more branches attached via α-1-6 glycosidic bond
Storage form of glucose in plants
