Case 1: Sugars & Fats
Παρασκευή, 5 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 10:03 μμ
Learning goals: (~ Main source -> Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry → Chapter 20: Carbohydrates, Chapter 21: Lipids)
1. What are the different types of fats and sugars?
Sugars: Carbohydrates are sugar molecules. They have the formula
- Types of carbohydrates:
○ Monosaccharides
○ Disaccharides & oligosaccharides
○ Polysaccharides
- Monosaccharides:
○ They have the general formula
○ They are known as simple sugars, because they cannot be hydrolyzed to a simpler compound.
○ Examples of monosaccharides are glucose (blood sugar), fructose (fruit sugar) and galactose (milk sugar).
○ Monosaccharides that contain an aldehyde group (-CHO) are called aldoses.
○ Monosaccharides that contain a ketone group (-C=O) are called ketones.
○ Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose and galactose
○ Nomenclature
1. How many carbon atoms are present?
Tri-xxx, Tetr-xxx, Pent-xxx…
2. What is the functional group?
Aldo- or Keto- in front of the name
3. Open chain or cyclic structure?
D- or L- configuration
4. Ending of carbohydrates
-ose
○ Structure
Monosaccharides can be as an open chain form or a ring formation. The ring is formed when the aldehyde or the ketone group reacts with the
hydroxyl group.
---
- Aldose/ Ketose ?
Aldehyde group = the carbonyl C is the last one in the group.
Ketose group = the carbonyl C is internal to the chain, there are other carbons on both sides.
- Fischer/Haworth projection
Fischer projection: a two dimensional (2D) representation that shows the configuration of a carbohydrate.
Haworth projection: a three-dimensional (3D) representation that shows the configuration of a carbohydrate.
Whenever there is an intersection, there is meant to be a carbon.
BBS1001-LEGO Bricks of Life Page 1
, - D / L configuration ? (for monosaccharides when written as Fischer projections)
D-configuration = the -OH group is on the bottom chiral center to the right
L-configuration = the -OH group is on the bottom chiral center to the left
- α/β
α => the -OH group is on the opposite side from the group (α points down)
β => the -OH group is on the same side as the group (β points up)
- Disaccharides
- A carbohydrate that contains two units of monosaccharides, connected by a glycosidic bond. The connection happens by a condensation reaction
and a H2O molecule is released. When the disaccharide is broken down, a H2O molecule is added, this reaction is called hydrolysis.
- Examples of disaccharides are maltose, lactose and sucrose.
- Polysaccharides
Examples of polysaccharides are starch, glycogen and cellulose.
Starch -> is made up of α-glucose molecules, it serves as a storage molecule in plants
Glycogen -> storage molecule of carbohydrates for animals (including humans). It is present in the liver and skeletal muscles. When it is broken down
via hydrolysis it releases glucose for the muscles to use
Why do we need carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy for the human body. Glucose (which is the product of carbohydrate digestion) is essential for the
function of the central nervous system.
BBS1001-LEGO Bricks of Life Page 2
Παρασκευή, 5 Σεπτεμβρίου 2025 10:03 μμ
Learning goals: (~ Main source -> Introduction to General, Organic & Biochemistry → Chapter 20: Carbohydrates, Chapter 21: Lipids)
1. What are the different types of fats and sugars?
Sugars: Carbohydrates are sugar molecules. They have the formula
- Types of carbohydrates:
○ Monosaccharides
○ Disaccharides & oligosaccharides
○ Polysaccharides
- Monosaccharides:
○ They have the general formula
○ They are known as simple sugars, because they cannot be hydrolyzed to a simpler compound.
○ Examples of monosaccharides are glucose (blood sugar), fructose (fruit sugar) and galactose (milk sugar).
○ Monosaccharides that contain an aldehyde group (-CHO) are called aldoses.
○ Monosaccharides that contain a ketone group (-C=O) are called ketones.
○ Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose and galactose
○ Nomenclature
1. How many carbon atoms are present?
Tri-xxx, Tetr-xxx, Pent-xxx…
2. What is the functional group?
Aldo- or Keto- in front of the name
3. Open chain or cyclic structure?
D- or L- configuration
4. Ending of carbohydrates
-ose
○ Structure
Monosaccharides can be as an open chain form or a ring formation. The ring is formed when the aldehyde or the ketone group reacts with the
hydroxyl group.
---
- Aldose/ Ketose ?
Aldehyde group = the carbonyl C is the last one in the group.
Ketose group = the carbonyl C is internal to the chain, there are other carbons on both sides.
- Fischer/Haworth projection
Fischer projection: a two dimensional (2D) representation that shows the configuration of a carbohydrate.
Haworth projection: a three-dimensional (3D) representation that shows the configuration of a carbohydrate.
Whenever there is an intersection, there is meant to be a carbon.
BBS1001-LEGO Bricks of Life Page 1
, - D / L configuration ? (for monosaccharides when written as Fischer projections)
D-configuration = the -OH group is on the bottom chiral center to the right
L-configuration = the -OH group is on the bottom chiral center to the left
- α/β
α => the -OH group is on the opposite side from the group (α points down)
β => the -OH group is on the same side as the group (β points up)
- Disaccharides
- A carbohydrate that contains two units of monosaccharides, connected by a glycosidic bond. The connection happens by a condensation reaction
and a H2O molecule is released. When the disaccharide is broken down, a H2O molecule is added, this reaction is called hydrolysis.
- Examples of disaccharides are maltose, lactose and sucrose.
- Polysaccharides
Examples of polysaccharides are starch, glycogen and cellulose.
Starch -> is made up of α-glucose molecules, it serves as a storage molecule in plants
Glycogen -> storage molecule of carbohydrates for animals (including humans). It is present in the liver and skeletal muscles. When it is broken down
via hydrolysis it releases glucose for the muscles to use
Why do we need carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are a primary source of energy for the human body. Glucose (which is the product of carbohydrate digestion) is essential for the
function of the central nervous system.
BBS1001-LEGO Bricks of Life Page 2
