Biological Importance of

Carbohydrates and lipids

Name -: Shakti Pooja

Roll no. -: 23
M. Sc Biotechnology
 CARBOHYDRATES
 Carbohydrates also known as hydrates of carbon are biomolecules consisting of
carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 1:2:1 respectively. They are also known
as saccharides as they are sugars and are sweet in taste. Carbohydrates are mainly
classified into foll. Groups -:
 1. Monosaccharids – These are carbohydrate molecules which can`t be broken
down into more pieces through hydrolysis. These are the simplest type of
carbohydrates
 2. Disaccharides – These are carbohydrates which are made up of 2
monosaccharides units.
 3. Oligosaccharides – These are the carbohydrates made up of more than 2
monosaccharides units.
 4. Polysaccharides – These are complex long chained carbohydrates which are
formed from more than 10 monosaccharides units. The number of
monosaccharides present in polysaccharides can be upto 1000.
 CLASSIFICATION OF CARBOHYDRATES

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharids Disaccharids Oligosaccharids Polysaccharids

Eg.
Glucose, Eg. Lactose, Eg. Xylane, Eg. Starch,
Fructose. Sucrose. Arbane. Cellulose.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCES
OF CARBOHYDRATES
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
MONOSACCHARIDES
 Monosaccharides are simple sugars, consist of a single
polyhydroxy aldehyde or ketone unit and can`t be
hydrolysed further
 These are colourless, crystalline solids which are soluble
in water but insoluble in non – polar solvents.
 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCES OF GLUCOSE
 Glucose is a monosaccharide that walls.
occurs naturally and is ubiquitous. Eg. Maltose ( 2 glucose molecules ),
It is one of the most important Lactose ( Glucose and Galactose
nutrient for fueling the body. molecules )etc.
 Glucose is broken down by kreb`s
cycle to yield ATP. It is one the
monomer that forms a large
number of oligosaccharides and
polysaccharides
 It circulates in Blood of animals
as blood sugar
 It is made by plants and most
algae during photosynthesis from
water and carbon dioxide using
energy form sunlight where it is
used to make cellulose in cell Structure of Glucose
 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF FRUCTOSE
 Fructose is special because it is protein is combined with a
the sweetest carbohydrate. carbohydrates.
 Plants make a lot of fructose as a
way of attracting insects and
animals which helps plants to
reproduce.
 One of the major biological
functions of fructose is it acts as
an alternative metabolite while
Structure of Fructose
the metabolic energy demand is
high.
 It can enter glycolysis and
produce intermediates for cellular
respiration.
 It can also be used during
glycation wherein a lipid or a
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
DISACCHARIDES
 These are the carbohydrates which are made up of 2
monosaccharides units and can be broken down by
hydrolysis.
 These are white in color and are sweet in taste.
 These are soluble in water.
 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SUCROSE
 Sucrose is a disaccharide made up
of one glucose and one fructose
unit.
 It is commonly called Cane sugar
 Sucrose is produced naturally in
plants, from which table sugar is
refined.
 Sugarcane, beetroot etc are the
plants from which this sugar is
extracted and consumed by
humans.

Structure of Sucrose
 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LACTOSE
 Lactose is a sugar found in milk.
It is a large sugar molecule made
up of two smaller sugar
molecules, glucose and galactose.
 In order for lactose to be absorbed
from the intestine and into the
body, it must be split into glucose
and galactose.
 The glucose and galactose are
then absorbed by the cells lining
the small intestine.
 The enzyme that split lactose into
Structure of Lactose
glucose and galactose is called
lactase, and is located on the
surface of the cells lining the
small intestine
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF
POLYSACCHARIDES.
 These are complex carbohydrates made of 10 to 1000`s
of monosaccharides units.
 Polysaccharides having same type of monosaccharides
are called homopolysaccharides and polysaccharides
having more than one type of monosaccharides units are
called heterosaccharides.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF STARCH
 Starch is a polysaccharide constituent monomer glucose
comprising glucose monomers units which diffuses from cells to
joined through glucosidic linkage. nourish the plant tissues.
 Starch is a white, granular,
organic chemical that is produced
by all green plants.
 Starch is soft, white, tasteless
powder that is soluble in cold
water, alcohol and other solvents.
 The simplest form of starch is the
linear polymer amylose,
amylopectin which is the
branched form. Structure of Starch
 When required, starch is broken
down, in presence of certain
enzymes and water, into its
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CELLULOSE
 Cellulose is a polysaccharide
comprising of glucose monomers.
It consists of a linear chain of
several hundred to many
thousands of D – glucose units
joined by glucosidic bonds.
 It is chiral, tasteless and has no
odour.
 It is the main stuff found in plant
cell walls and helps the plant to
remain stiff and strong.
 It is used in making clothes and
Structure of Cellulose.
paper.
 Humans cannot digest cellulose,
but it is important in the diet as a
source of fibre.
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCES
OF
LIPIDS
LIPIDS GENERAL ACCOUNT
 Lipids are a broad group of naturally – occurring molecules which
includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat – soluble vitamins (such as vitamin A,
D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others.
 CLASSIFICATION OF LIPIDS
LIPIDS

Simple Lipids Compound Lipids Derived Lipids

Fats & oil Waxes Phospholipids Glycolipids Sulpholipids

Lecithin Cerebrosides
Simple
Cephalin Gangliosides
Mixed
Plasmalogen

Sphingomyelin

Alcohol Fatty Acids Sterols Isoprenoids

Terpenoids

Carotenoids
BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LIPIDS
 Lipids are energy rich foods with are synthesised from cholestrol.
high calorific value. One gram of  Phospholipids are involved in
lipid produce 9.3 kilocalories of absorption and transportation of
heat. fatty acids.
 Lipids act as vitamin carriers for
fat soluble vitamins like A, D and
E.
 Lipids act as reserve food in body
and can be used by the body the
when needed.
 Lipids have application in the
cosmetic and food industries.
 Lipids are also involved in
hormone synthesis. The sex
hormones, cholic acids,
adrenocoritocoids and vitamin D