B1.1 Functions of Saccharide Polymers
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What is the key idea of saccharide polymer function?
Glucose isomers form structural and storage polysaccharides; their isomer and glycosidic linkage type determine molecular properties.
What type of linkage joins glucose monomers in polysaccharides?
Glycosidic bond, formed by condensation reactions between hydroxyl groups, releasing water.
What is the difference between α-glucose and β-glucose?
The -OH group on carbon 1 faces down in α-glucose and up in β-glucose; this changes polymer structure.
What is the main storage polysaccharide in plants?
Starch — composed of amylose (α-1,4 bonds, unbranched) and amylopectin (α-1,4 and α-1,6 bonds, branched).
Where is starch stored in plants?
In amyloplasts — non-pigmented organelles in plant cells.
What is the storage polysaccharide in animals?
Glycogen, made of α-glucose, similar to amylopectin but more highly branched with shorter α-1,6 branches.
What is the structural polysaccharide in plants?
Cellulose, a β-glucose polymer with β-1,4 glycosidic bonds forming straight, unbranched chains.
Why is cellulose strong?
Hydrogen bonds between parallel chains form microfibrils, giving high tensile strength for cell walls.
What is the structural polysaccharide in arthropods and fungi?
Chitin, made of N-acetylglucosamine monomers with β-1,4 bonds.
Why are cellulose and chitin indigestible to humans?
Humans lack enzymes for β-1,4 glycosidic bonds.
What is the difference between cellulose and amylose?
Cellulose: β-glucose, β-1,4 bonds, straight, structural Amylose: α-glucose, α-1,4 bonds, helical, storage
What are oligosaccharides?
Short chains (4–5 monosaccharides) attached to proteins or lipids for cell recognition and signalling.
What are glycoproteins and glycolipids?
Molecules with oligosaccharides bound to proteins or lipids on cell membranes; involved in cell communication.
What biological system depends on glycoprotein structure?
ABO blood group system — different terminal sugars determine A, B, or O antigens.
What structural difference causes the O blood type?
The terminal galactose is missing from the O-type glycoprotein.
What determines the properties of polysaccharides?
The isomer of glucose and the type of glycosidic bond (α or β).