Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biochemistry4h 34m
2. Water3h 23m
3. Amino Acids8h 10m
4. Protein Structure10h 4m
5. Protein Techniques14h 5m
6. Enzymes and Enzyme Kinetics13h 38m
7. Enzyme Inhibition and Regulation 8h 42m
8. Protein Function 9h 41m
9. Carbohydrates7h 49m
10. Lipids5h 49m
11. Biological Membranes and Transport 6h 37m
12. Biosignaling9h 45m
Review 1: Nucleic Acids, Lipids, & Membranes2h 47m
Review 2: Biosignaling, Glycolysis, Gluconeogenesis, & PP-Pathway3h 12m
Review 3: Pyruvate & Fatty Acid Oxidation, Citric Acid Cycle, & Glycogen Metabolism2h 26m
Review 4: Amino Acid Oxidation, Oxidative Phosphorylation, & Photophosphorylation1h 48m

1. Introduction to Biochemistry

Carbohydrates

Biochemistry

1. Introduction to Biochemistry

Carbohydrates

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with Biochemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Do sugar molecules provide all the elements required to synthesize the four major types of biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)?

No, because proteins and nucleic acids require nitrogen, which sugars lack.

No, because lipids require sulfur, which sugars do not provide.

Yes, as sugars can be converted into any macromolecule without additional elements.

Yes, sugars contain all the necessary elements for all macromolecules.

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Begin by identifying the four major types of biological macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Each of these macromolecules has distinct elemental requirements.

Step 2: Analyze the composition of sugar molecules. Sugars are carbohydrates composed primarily of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). These elements are sufficient for synthesizing carbohydrates but may not fulfill the requirements for other macromolecules.

Step 3: Examine the elemental requirements for proteins. Proteins are composed of amino acids, which contain nitrogen (N) in their amino groups. Since sugars lack nitrogen, they cannot directly provide the nitrogen required for protein synthesis.

Step 4: Investigate the elemental requirements for nucleic acids. Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) require nitrogen for their nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, and uracil). Additionally, they require phosphorus (P) for the phosphate backbone. Sugars do not contain nitrogen or phosphorus, so they cannot provide these elements.

Step 5: Consider lipids. While sugars can contribute to the carbon backbone of lipids, certain lipids (e.g., phospholipids) require phosphorus, and some specialized lipids may require sulfur. Sugars alone cannot provide these additional elements, making them insufficient for synthesizing all macromolecules.