formation of carbs
monosaccarides polymerize to form polymers called polysaccharides, joined by glycosidic linkages
carbs perform a wide variety of functions ex: structure, basis for other molecules, cell identity, storing chemical energy
How do monosaccharide monomers vary?
location of carbonyl group (aldose is at end, ketose in middle) number or carbons present (tri,pent, hex), spatial arrangement, linear vs ringed
Polysaccharides
also known as complex carbs, polymers of monosaccharide monomers
simplest polysaccharide is disaccharide (2 monosaccharide monomers)
glycosidic linkage
a covalent bond that results after a condensation reaction between two hydroxyl groups (OH) location and geometry of these bonds vary widely
Starch : plant storage polysaccharide
glycogen : animal storage
cellulose : plant cell walls
chitin : fungi cell walls, animal exoskeletons, some algae
peptidoglycan : bacterial cell walls