Understanding Carbohydrates - GRE Subject Test: Biology

Carbohydrate monomers (monosaccharides) can be joined together with either alpha or beta linkages. Humans have the enzymes necessary in order to break down alpha linkages, but not beta linkages. Cellulose is a polysaccharide in which the monomers joined together by beta linkages, so humans cannot digest cellulose. Some bacterial species are capable of cleaving these linkages and have developed symbiotic or mutualistic relationships with animals. These bacterial species inhabit the mammalian digestive tract, cleaving beta linkages and gaining protection from the outside environment.

The size and branching pattern of a carbohydrate do not affect its ability to be digested.

The two most common polysaccharides found in plant cells are starch and cellulose. Starch is the primary source of energy storage, while cellulose is used to construct the plant's cell walls.

When a monosaccharide becomes cyclic in form, the anomeric carbon can have its hydroxyl group pointing in the same direction as the methoxy group, or oriented in the opposite direction. This orientation determines whether the sugar is considered alpha or beta.

Carbohydrates are linked together to form disaccharides and other polysaccharides through glycosidic linkages. A glycosidic linkage is one in where two sugar molecules are bridged by an oxygen atom. Peptide linkages are found between amino acids and phosphodiester bonds are found between nucleic acid monomers. Ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one species to another. Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular and intramolecular forces that contribute to the stability of many substances such as liquid water.

Glycogen and starch molecules are connected by alpha linkages. Glycogen and starch can be digested by humans because we have an enzyme capable of separating these linkages to produce monosaccharides. Cellulose on the other hand is connected through beta linkages. These beta linkages allow for the polysaccharide to form straight chains which can serve structural purposes such as plant cell walls. Cellulose, however, cannot be digested by humans because we do not have enzymes capable of severing these linkages.

Carbohydrate monomers (monosaccharides) can be joined together with either alpha or beta linkages. Humans have the enzymes necessary in order to break down alpha linkages, but not beta linkages. Cellulose is a polysaccharide in which the monomers joined together by beta linkages, so humans cannot digest cellulose. Some bacterial species are capable of cleaving these linkages and have developed symbiotic or mutualistic relationships with animals. These bacterial species inhabit the mammalian digestive tract, cleaving beta linkages and gaining protection from the outside environment.

The size and branching pattern of a carbohydrate do not affect its ability to be digested.

The two most common polysaccharides found in plant cells are starch and cellulose. Starch is the primary source of energy storage, while cellulose is used to construct the plant's cell walls.

When a monosaccharide becomes cyclic in form, the anomeric carbon can have its hydroxyl group pointing in the same direction as the methoxy group, or oriented in the opposite direction. This orientation determines whether the sugar is considered alpha or beta.

Carbohydrates are linked together to form disaccharides and other polysaccharides through glycosidic linkages. A glycosidic linkage is one in where two sugar molecules are bridged by an oxygen atom. Peptide linkages are found between amino acids and phosphodiester bonds are found between nucleic acid monomers. Ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one species to another. Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular and intramolecular forces that contribute to the stability of many substances such as liquid water.

Glycogen and starch molecules are connected by alpha linkages. Glycogen and starch can be digested by humans because we have an enzyme capable of separating these linkages to produce monosaccharides. Cellulose on the other hand is connected through beta linkages. These beta linkages allow for the polysaccharide to form straight chains which can serve structural purposes such as plant cell walls. Cellulose, however, cannot be digested by humans because we do not have enzymes capable of severing these linkages.

Carbohydrate monomers (monosaccharides) can be joined together with either alpha or beta linkages. Humans have the enzymes necessary in order to break down alpha linkages, but not beta linkages. Cellulose is a polysaccharide in which the monomers joined together by beta linkages, so humans cannot digest cellulose. Some bacterial species are capable of cleaving these linkages and have developed symbiotic or mutualistic relationships with animals. These bacterial species inhabit the mammalian digestive tract, cleaving beta linkages and gaining protection from the outside environment.

The size and branching pattern of a carbohydrate do not affect its ability to be digested.

The two most common polysaccharides found in plant cells are starch and cellulose. Starch is the primary source of energy storage, while cellulose is used to construct the plant's cell walls.

When a monosaccharide becomes cyclic in form, the anomeric carbon can have its hydroxyl group pointing in the same direction as the methoxy group, or oriented in the opposite direction. This orientation determines whether the sugar is considered alpha or beta.

Carbohydrates are linked together to form disaccharides and other polysaccharides through glycosidic linkages. A glycosidic linkage is one in where two sugar molecules are bridged by an oxygen atom. Peptide linkages are found between amino acids and phosphodiester bonds are found between nucleic acid monomers. Ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one species to another. Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular and intramolecular forces that contribute to the stability of many substances such as liquid water.

Glycogen and starch molecules are connected by alpha linkages. Glycogen and starch can be digested by humans because we have an enzyme capable of separating these linkages to produce monosaccharides. Cellulose on the other hand is connected through beta linkages. These beta linkages allow for the polysaccharide to form straight chains which can serve structural purposes such as plant cell walls. Cellulose, however, cannot be digested by humans because we do not have enzymes capable of severing these linkages.

Carbohydrate monomers (monosaccharides) can be joined together with either alpha or beta linkages. Humans have the enzymes necessary in order to break down alpha linkages, but not beta linkages. Cellulose is a polysaccharide in which the monomers joined together by beta linkages, so humans cannot digest cellulose. Some bacterial species are capable of cleaving these linkages and have developed symbiotic or mutualistic relationships with animals. These bacterial species inhabit the mammalian digestive tract, cleaving beta linkages and gaining protection from the outside environment.

The size and branching pattern of a carbohydrate do not affect its ability to be digested.

The two most common polysaccharides found in plant cells are starch and cellulose. Starch is the primary source of energy storage, while cellulose is used to construct the plant's cell walls.

When a monosaccharide becomes cyclic in form, the anomeric carbon can have its hydroxyl group pointing in the same direction as the methoxy group, or oriented in the opposite direction. This orientation determines whether the sugar is considered alpha or beta.

Carbohydrates are linked together to form disaccharides and other polysaccharides through glycosidic linkages. A glycosidic linkage is one in where two sugar molecules are bridged by an oxygen atom. Peptide linkages are found between amino acids and phosphodiester bonds are found between nucleic acid monomers. Ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of one or more electrons from one species to another. Hydrogen bonds are weak intermolecular and intramolecular forces that contribute to the stability of many substances such as liquid water.

Glycogen and starch molecules are connected by alpha linkages. Glycogen and starch can be digested by humans because we have an enzyme capable of separating these linkages to produce monosaccharides. Cellulose on the other hand is connected through beta linkages. These beta linkages allow for the polysaccharide to form straight chains which can serve structural purposes such as plant cell walls. Cellulose, however, cannot be digested by humans because we do not have enzymes capable of severing these linkages.