The properties of carbohydrates which make them

biologically important.

Prepared
by
Dr.Aniladevi
Faculty of Dentistry
Lincoln Universtiy College
Structure
1. D-sugars are the only naturally
existing sugars. Body can metabolize
only D-sugars.

2. In body, D-galactose obtained from

milk is epimerised to D-glucose.

3. Keto sugar fructose is isomerised to

glucose.
4. All monosaccharides and some
disaccharides are reducing sugars. They
reduce other substances undergoing
oxidation by itself.
This property of reducing sugars helps to
identify the blood glucose in laboratory
using Bendict’s solution.
The compounds of biological
importance are produced by
Oxidation and reduction reactions

Oxidation of hydroxyl group

at C6 to carboxyl group
produces uronic acid.

• Glucose gives glucuronic

acid,
• Galactose gives
galacturonic acid.
5.
-CHO or –C=O groups are oxidized to aldonic
acids. But the oxidation of the last –CH2OH group
produces uronic acids. Eg:- glucuronic acod is
used by the body for conjugation with insoluble
molecules to make them soluble in water.
 Reduction of aldehyde or
ketone group produces
alcohol

 Glucose gives sorbitol,

 Galactose gives galactilol,

 Ribose gives ribitol

6. -Mannitol is used to reduce intracranial tension by
forced diuresis.

- Sorbitol and dulcitol accumulate in abnormal

amounts in lens in case of cataract. Hence its
osmotic effect is analysed.
Sugar Derivatives
 Monosaccharides
 Uronic acids
 Sugar alcohols
 Sugar phosphates
 Amino sugars
 Deoxy sugars
DERIVATIVES OF SUGAR
 In addition to the physiologically important derivative like
uronic acids, sorbitol and mannitol the following derivatives
are also important.
 They are esters, glycosides, amino sugars, deoxysugars and
ascorbic acid.

7. Esters:
The esters of glucose,glucose-1-phosphate and glucose-6-
phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-bis phophate
play vital roles in the metabolism of carbohydrates.
8. Glycosides:
Glycosides are found in drugs and many species.
 They are important clinically for their action on heart (
cardiac glycosides ).
 Cardiac glycosides contain steroid as an aglycone.
 E.g : ouabain, an inhibitor of Na+ K+ ATPase of cell
membrane, digoxin and digitoxin which stimulate the
muscle contractions.
 Streptomycin, which is a glycoside is an antibiotic.
9. Amino sugars are formed by the reaction between the –OH group of second
C of sugar and the –NH2 groups.
- Hence hemoglobin can be glycosylated to form HbA1C.
- Glucosamine is an important component of glucuronic acid, heparin and blood
group substances.
- Monosamine in mucopolysaccharides.
- the acetylated amino group is seen in N-acetylated glucosamine and
N-acetylated galactosamine as constituent of glycoproteins,
mucopolysaccharides and cell membrane antigens.
10. Deoxy sugars are formed by the removal of
oxygen from hydroxyl group of sugars.
Deoxy ribose is present in DNA.
L-fucose is seen in blood group antigens and
glycoproteins.
L-rhamnose is seen in glycosides.
11. A number of pentoses which are ketoses are involved
in various metabolic pathways.
Arabinose in glycoproteins.
Xylulose in intermediate uronic acid pathway
xylose in proteoglycans.
12. UDP-glucose and UDP-galactose are involved
in various metabolic pathways such as glycogen
sysnthesis and galactose metabolism.
Reference:-
Textbook of Biochemistry by Vasudevan and Sreekumari
Textbook of Biochemistry by Debjyothi Das