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Carbohydrates definitions

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  • Carbohydrate
    A carbon-based molecule rich in hydroxyl groups, often called saccharide or sugar, with diverse structures and functions in biology.
  • Saccharide
    A synonym for sugar or carbohydrate, derived from Greek, encompassing molecules with carbon and hydroxyl groups.
  • Monosaccharide
    A single carbohydrate unit, serving as the basic building block for larger carbohydrate polymers.
  • Oligosaccharide
    A carbohydrate containing 2 to 20 covalently linked monosaccharide units, including disaccharides and trisaccharides.
  • Polysaccharide
    A carbohydrate composed of more than 20 monosaccharide units, often forming complex, branched or linear structures.
  • Glycosidic Bond
    A covalent linkage connecting monosaccharide units in carbohydrates, enabling both linear and branched formations.
  • Hydroxyl Group
    A functional group consisting of an oxygen and hydrogen atom, abundant in carbohydrate molecules and key to their properties.
  • Linear Structure
    A molecular arrangement where carbohydrate units are connected in a straight chain, often seen in certain polysaccharides.
  • Branched Structure
    A molecular configuration where carbohydrate chains diverge at multiple points, resulting in complex architectures.
  • Disaccharide
    A carbohydrate formed by two monosaccharide units linked together, classified as a type of oligosaccharide.
  • Trisaccharide
    A carbohydrate consisting of three monosaccharide units joined by glycosidic bonds, also an oligosaccharide subtype.
  • Energy Source
    A primary biological function of carbohydrates, providing rapid fuel through oxidation in nearly all cells.
  • Structural Component
    A role of carbohydrates in forming parts of cell walls, nucleotides, and other protective cellular structures.
  • Cell Communication
    A function where carbohydrates participate in cell recognition, adhesion, and coordination, influencing bio-signaling.
  • Intracellular Localization
    A process where carbohydrate modifications determine the destination and metabolic fate of molecules within cells.