General Biochemistry BIOC 201

Chapter IV Chemistry of Objectives

11.. The main objective of this chapter is getting the student to know the polysaccharides constituents of human food. 22. The chapter is designed to familiarize the student with the basic biochemical classification of polysaccharides. 33.. To provide the student with the occurrence of different polysaccharides in nature. Most carbohydrates found in nature occur as polymers of medium to high molecular weight.

 Polysaccharides, also called glycans They differ from each other in:  the identity of their monosaccharide units  in the length of their chains  in the types of bonds linking the units  and in the degree of branching Polysaccharides

Homopolysaccharides Heteropolysaccharides (same sugar units) (sugar units + other groups) Homopolysaccharides (same sugar units)

Glucosans Fructosans Only Only Starch, Dextrin Inulin , Heteropolysaccharides (sugar units + other groups)

Neutral Acidic

Some Homopolysaccharides Are Stored Forms of Fuel Starch and dextrin * present only in plants. * formed of thousands of Dglucose units linked by α 14 and α 16 glucosidic linkage. (Branched) Glycogen is the main storage in humans (Liver and Muscles)  Glycogen and starch ingested in the diet are hydrolyzed by α amylases, enzymes in saliva and intestinal secretions that break (α 14 ) glycosidic bonds between glucose units.

 Most animals cannot use cellulose as a fuel source, because they lack an enzymeto hydrolyze the (β 1 4 ) linkages. Dextrans are bacterial and yeast polysaccharides made up of (α 16 )linked polyDglucose; all have (α 13) branches, and some also have ( α 12) or (α 14) branches. Dental plaque , formed by bacteria growing on the surface of teeth, is rich in dextrans. Some Homopolysaccharides Serve Structural Roles

 Cellulose , a fibrous, tough, waterinsoluble substance, is found in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose constitutes much of the mass of wood, and cotton is almost pure cellulose.

 The cellulose molecule is a linear, unbranched homopolysaccharide, consisting of 10,000 to 15,000 Dglucose units. Cellulose cont.,

 In cellulose the glucose residues have the β configuration  Not digested in our gut  Stimulate intestinal peristalsis and prevent constipation

Amylopectin Cellulose breakdown by fungi Chitin

 Chitin is a linear homopolysaccharide composed of Nacetylglucosamine residues in β linkage  The only chemical difference from cellulose is the replacement of the hydroxyl group at C2 with an acetylated amino group Chitin

 Chitin forms extended fibers similar to those of cellulose, and like cellulose cannot be digested by vertebrates  Chitin is the principal component of the hard exoskeletons of nearly a million species of arthropods, insects, lobsters, and crabs, for example and is probably the second most abundant polysaccharide, next to cellulose, in nature Chitin  Inulin is a homopolysaccharide of fructose (fructosan ) found in tubers and roots of artichokes.

 It is readily soluble in water. Heteropolysaccharides

 Heteropolysaccharides provide extracellular support for organisms of all kingdoms.

 Rigid layer of the bacterial cell envelope (the peptidoglycan ) Peptidoglycan

 Peptidoglycan confers mechanical support and prevents bacteria from bursting in response to their high internal osmotic pressure. Heteropolysaccharides (sugar units + other groups) (Mucopolysaccharide)

Neutral Acidic Mucopolysaccharides

 Complex carbohydrates  characterized by their content of amino sugars and uronic acids.  When attached to a protein molecule, the result is a proteoglycan.  Proteoglycans provide the ground or packing substance of connective tissues. Neutral Mucopolysaccharides

 Almost all the plasma proteins of humans except albumin are glycoproteins .  A number of the blood group substances are glycoproteins, whereas others are glycosphingolipids.  Antigens, eg, ABO blood group substances are Neutral Mucopolysaccharides Acidic Mucopolysaccharides  Sulfate free ( Hyaluronic acid ))  Ground substance of connective tissues

 Hydrolysis = acetic acid, glucosamine & glucuronic acid Sulfate containing Acidic Mucopolysaccharides

 Chnodroitin sulfate contributes to the tensile strength of cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and the walls of the aorta. (Cartilages and bones)  Hydrolysis = acetic acid amine Sulfuric acid Glucuronic acid Sulfate containing Acidic Mucopolysaccharides

 Heparin is a natural anticoagulant made in mast cells (a type of leukocyte)  Released into the blood, where it inhibits blood coagulation by binding to the protein antithrombin and inhibit thrombin, a protease essential to blood clotting.  Hydrolysis = glucosamine Sulfuric acid Glucuronic acid