Carbohydrates CAQ

🍞 Carbohydrates Structure and properties of cellulose,starch and glycogen Starch: Structure Properties Made up of many alpha glucose monomers joined by alpha 1,4 glycosidic bonds and coiled to form helices resulting in compactness in amylose and in amylopectin it additionally has alpha  1,6 glycosidic bonds at branch points Compact structure enables many alpha glucose to be packed per unit volume Most hydroxyl groups of alpha glucose monomers are projected into the helix and are involved in intramolecular hydrogen bonding within the helix Resulting in insolubility ensures that starch does not affect water potential of cells, able to stores as much as starch Amylopectin has many branch points bonds formed by alpha 1,6 glycosidic bonds Multiple branch sites allow release of more glucose per unit time Cellulose: Structure Properties Each cellulose molecule consists of alternate beta glucose monomers rotated 180 degrees with respect to each other linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bond resulting in a linear and unbranched cellulose chain. The hydroxyl groups project outwards from each linear cellulose molecules allows extensive hydrogen bonds to form between neighbouring parallel chains, Extensive cross-linking by hydrogen bonding imparts high tensile strength and rigidity allowing cell to develop turgor pressure when placed in solution with higher-water potential ,providing mechanical strength to plant cells/ prevents osmotic lysis when placing in solutions of higher water potential; Car boh y drat es 1

Structure Properties forming microfibrils which will bundle together to form macro fibrils which in turn associate e together to form cellulose fibres giving rise to high tensile strength Since the hydroxyl groups are involved in cross-linking between the cellulose chains, the OH groups are not free to form hydrogen bonds with water, insoluble in water allowing cell walls to provide structural support as they will not dissolve Criss crossing of many microfibrils creates a meshwork, resulting in a porous structures that allows the passage of water and solute molecules, permeable to water and solutes Enabling permeability to important substances and does not hinder transport Meshwork of interwoven cellulose fibres form the cell wall of plant cells which helps to distribute-stress in all directions Ability to distribute stress in all directions prevents plant cells from bursting under turgor pressure; Glycogen: Structure Function Large long chain, insoluble in water due to hydrogen bonds in the OH groups being involved in intermolecular hydrogen bonding, hence unable to interact with water Can be stored in large quantities and Does not affect water potential of cells Alpha 1,4 glycosidic Bond links glucose monomers forming a Helical molecule glucose forming a large yet compact structure for storage More glucose units per volume can be stored Car boh y drat es 2

Structure Function Extensively branched with many ends for hydrolysis of glycosidic bon