BIOL 1107 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Aquaporin, Hydrophile, Phospholipid
Document Summary
Linear glucose in an aq. solution forms a ring structure (can be alpha or beta ring) Living things use shape to perform work: shape dictates function. Carbohydrates can very easily and quickly change shape by simply changing the position of a functional group. Polymerize: bringing together to form more complex carbs. Some functions of carbohydrates: energy storage, structure, glycoproteins. Glycoproteins are made of cell membrane, protein, and a short chain of carbohydrates; they give cells unique, organismal identity so that when white blood cells are searching for foreign substances they don"t destroy the self. Carbohydrates" specific covalent bond: glycosidic linkage: orientation of this bond dictates the type of substance. Plants store glucose as starch: amylose (unbranched) or amylopectin (branched) Animals store glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscles, which is always branched. Branched forms of glucose are fuel for atp which makes energy. The unbranched form (only in plants) helps with structure.
