Biomolecules: Carbohydrates
BCH 201
Adu, Oluwatosin B.
,Biomolecules: Molecules of life
Molecules form the structures of cells and carry out cellular functions. Chemical
bonds within and between biological molecules are important to their structure.
Four groups of large molecules — carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
— are the most important molecules to cells.
• Carbohydrates provide energy and structure to cells.
• Lipids form membranes, send signals, and store energy.
• Proteins are the main worker molecules of cells, providing structure and doing
lots of different functions.
• The most famous molecule of life — DNA — is a nucleic acid. They encode the
blueprints for life, and copies of this code are passed to future generations.
, Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones,
or substances that yield such compounds on
hydrolysis.
• Many, but not all, carbohydrates have the empirical
formula (CH2O)n; some also contain nitrogen,
phosphorus, or sulfur.
• There are three major size classes of carbohydrates:
monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and
polysaccharides (the word “saccharide” is derived
from the Greek sakcharon, meaning “sugar”).
BCH 201
Adu, Oluwatosin B.
,Biomolecules: Molecules of life
Molecules form the structures of cells and carry out cellular functions. Chemical
bonds within and between biological molecules are important to their structure.
Four groups of large molecules — carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
— are the most important molecules to cells.
• Carbohydrates provide energy and structure to cells.
• Lipids form membranes, send signals, and store energy.
• Proteins are the main worker molecules of cells, providing structure and doing
lots of different functions.
• The most famous molecule of life — DNA — is a nucleic acid. They encode the
blueprints for life, and copies of this code are passed to future generations.
, Carbohydrates
• Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones,
or substances that yield such compounds on
hydrolysis.
• Many, but not all, carbohydrates have the empirical
formula (CH2O)n; some also contain nitrogen,
phosphorus, or sulfur.
• There are three major size classes of carbohydrates:
monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and
polysaccharides (the word “saccharide” is derived
from the Greek sakcharon, meaning “sugar”).
