Biochemistry : Monosaccharides and Carbohydrates

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

Compared to a molecule of galactose, a molecule of glucose has __________ number of hydrogen atoms and __________ number of oxygen atoms. 

Possible Answers:

the same . . . the same

a greater . . . the same

a greater . . . a greater

the same . . . a greater

Correct answer:

the same . . . the same

Explanation:

Galactose and glucose are both 6-carbon monosaccharides. They are classified as structural isomers. This means that they have the same molecular formula, but different structural orientations. The molecular formula of a generic monosaccharide with  carbons is ; therefore, the molecular formula for both glucose and galactose is . They have the same number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

The chemical structures of glucose and galactose differ in the C4 atom. The hydroxyl group is oriented differently at this position, altering the stereochemistry at C4. All other carbon atoms in glucose and galactose have the same stereochemistry. This means that glucose and galactose are a special type of structural isomer called epimers.

Example Question #1 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

Disaccharidases are enzymes found in the small intestine that participate in degradation of disaccharides. Which of the following molecules can be broken down by these enzymes?

I. Fructose

II. Sucrose

III. Starch

Possible Answers:

II and III

I only

I and III

II only

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

Sucrose is a disaccharide that is made up of a glucose and a fructose molecule, bound by a glycosidic linkage. A disaccahridase, called sucrase, breaks down sucrose molecules into their component monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), which can then by absorbed by the enterocytes in the small intestine.

Fructose is a monosaccharide that can be directly absorbed by enterocytes. Starch is a complex carbohydrate (polysaccharide) with many glucose molecules attached via glycosidic bonds. 

Example Question #3 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

Which of the following is true regarding the polysaccharides glycogen and cellulose? 

Possible Answers:

Only glycogen molecules have branching regions

Both molecules involve a glycosidic bond between the 1-carbon and the 6-carbon

Cellulose can be found as either amylose or amylopectin

Humans can digest glycogen because it has beta glycosidic bonds

Correct answer:

Only glycogen molecules have branching regions

Explanation:

Just like starch, glycogen and cellulose are complex carbohydrates that contain glucose molecules joined via glycosidic bonds. Both carbohydrates contain (1,4) glycosidic bonds. This means that the bond occurs between the 1-carbon of one glucose and the 4-carbon of the other glucose. Glycogen contains -(1,4) glycosidic bonds whereas cellulose contains -(1,4) bonds.

In addition, glycogen molecules contain -(1,6 ) glycosidic bonds. These bonds are typically found in branch points along the main chain of glucose molecules. Cellulose molecules do not have branching and, therefore, do not have -(1,6) glycosidic bonds.

As mentioned, glycogen contains  bonds. Humans have enzymes capable of digesting complex carbohydrates with  linkages; therefore, only glycogen and starch (which also has  linkages) can be digested by humans. Amylin and amylopectin are forms of starch, not cellulose. 

Example Question #4 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

A researcher is analyzing a compound. He finds that it has the same structure as glucose, but has an altered configuration at one of the stereogenic centers. What can the researcher conclude about the compound?

I. It is an epimer of glucose

II. It is an aldose

III. It could be fructose

Possible Answers:

I only

I and II

III only

II only

Correct answer:

I and II

Explanation:

The question states that the molecule has the same structure as glucose, except at one stereogenic center. Recall that epimers are structural isomers that differ at one stereogenic center; therefore, glucose and the compound are epimers. The epimers of glucose include galactose and mannose. All three molecules have a molecular formula of .

Recall that aldoses are carbohydrates that have an aldehyde group at one of the carbons. Glucose and all of its epimers have an aldehyde group at the first carbon; therefore, this compound is an aldose.

Fructose is a ketose that has a ketone group in the second carbon. Recall that aldehydes and ketones have carbonyl groups; therefore, they are not considered stereogenic centers (to be a stereogenic center you need to have four distinct functional groups on a carbon). Since fructose differs from glucose at a non-stereogenic center, this molecule cannot be fructose. Note that fructose also has a different molecular formula (). 

Example Question #91 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which of the following carbohydrates is most likely to be found in an open chain?

Possible Answers:

A pentose

A triose

A hexose

A heptose

Correct answer:

A triose

Explanation:

Only 1% of all sugars that have five or more carbons are found in an open chain, thus any sugar that has five or more carbons will be most likely found in its cyclic form. Of the four choices a triose is the only one that has less that five carbons (it has three) the others have 5 (pentose), 6 (hexose), and 7 (heptose).

Example Question #3 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

If a monosaccharide has a single carbonyl group situated between two carbon atoms, which of the following best describes that monosaccharide's classification?

Possible Answers:

Ketose

Glucose

Aldose

Ribose

Aldohexose

Correct answer:

Ketose

Explanation:

Given no other information about how many carbons are in the chain, any monosaccharide with a carbonyl group on a carbon between two others and not at the terminal carbon of the chain is called a ketose. Aldoses are when the carbonyl group is at the end of the chain. Ribose and aldohexose are incorrect because 1) ribose is too specific, we do not know anything about the structure and ribose indicates a specific monosaccharide, and 2) aldohexose has an aldehyde group, not a ketone group. 

Example Question #4 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What is a furanose?

Possible Answers:

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

A six-carbon open-chain sugar

A five-carbon open chain sugar

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

Correct answer:

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

Explanation:

A furanose is defined as a cyclical sugar structure with a five-membered ring. By contrast, a pyranose is a cyclical sugar structure with a six-membered ring.

Example Question #1 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What two sugars is lactose composed of?

Possible Answers:

Glucose and glucose

Glucose and sucrose

Glucose and fructose

Glucose and galactose

Galactose and sucrose

Correct answer:

Glucose and galactose

Explanation:

Three common simple sugars are: glucose, fructose, and galactose. Combining these simple sugars leads to the formation of more complex sugar molecules. Glucose and fructose make sucrose. Glucose and galactose make lactose. Two glucose molecules make maltose. 

Example Question #1 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What is a pyranose?

Possible Answers:

A six-carbon open-chain sugar

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

A five-carbon open-chain sugar

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

Correct answer:

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

Explanation:

A pyranose is a carbohydrate that includes a ring. It is not an open-chain carbohydrate. Additionally, this term is reserved for six-membered, not five-membered carbohydrate ring structures. A sugar which contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure is called a furanose.

Example Question #2 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What type of process is occurring as carbohydrates are broken down to carbon dioxide?

Possible Answers:

Substitution

Oxidation

Reduction

Elimination

Proteolysis

Correct answer:

Oxidation

Explanation:

As carbohydrates are broken down, they are oxidized to carbon dioxide . This process, cellular respiration, begins during glycolysis. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation, and would indicate a loss of oxygen. Elimination refers to the removal of a functional group, which does not occur during this process. In substitution, one functional group is replaced with another, which also does not accurately describe this process. Finally, proteolysis refers to the breakdown of proteins, not carbohydrates.

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