In this article we will discuss about the Meaning and Types of Carbohydrates. Meaning of Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldoses, ketoses and their condensation products. Aldoses bear terminal aldehyde or —CHO group (e.g., glyceraldehyde, xylose, ribose, glucose, galactose) while ketoses have an internal ketone or —CO— group (e.g., dihydroxy acetone, erythrulose, ribulose, xylulose, fructose, sedoheptulose). The term carbohydrate is derived [...]
The following points highlight the three main types of Polysaccharides. The types are: 1. Food Storage Polysaccharides 2. Structural Polysaccharides 3. Mucosubstances. Type # 1. Food Storage Polysaccharides: They are those polysaccharides which serve as reserve food. At the time of need, storage polysaccharides are hydrolysed. Sugars thus released become available to the living cells for production of energy and [...]
The following points highlight the top three properties of carbohydrates in cell membrane of mammals. 1. The mammalian cell membrane contains about 5 per cent carbohydrates present in glycoproteins and glycolipids. 2. Glycophorin, the major integral membrane glycoprotein of human erythrocytes, consists of 130 amino acid residues and spans the lipid membrane having free polypeptide proteins outside both the external [...]