Saccharides and the “-ose” suffix

You’ve probably noticed that most of the saccharides we’ve discussed so far, like glucose and
galactose, end with the suffix “-ose.” There are standardized rules for naming saccharides,
so these names usually end with “-ose.”
For instance, glucose is the saccharide that’s the basis of energy production, and it’s the
sugar referred to when we talk about blood sugar. Common table sugar is technically called
sucrose. Milk contains a saccharide called milk sugar, which is known as lactose, and the
sugar contained in fruit is called fructose. It’s important to remember that there are several
kinds of saccharides in the natural world, and the structures of sucrose, lactose, glucose,
galactose, and fructose actually differ somewhat. Also, the starch found in rice, potatoes, and
other starchy foods is made from amylose and amylopectin.
In Chapter 3, we’ll examine the structures of these saccharides in detail.

Why do monosaccharides take a cyclic structure?

Why do monosaccharides take a cyclic structure more often than an open-chain ­structure?
The secret is in an OH that’s bonded to a carbon in the molecule.
Alcohol is a good example of this: All types of alcohol are represented in the form R-OH
(where R is the variable group). Alcohol can bind with an aldehyde group or a ketone group
to create a substance called hemiacetal. Since an OH of a monosaccharide also has this
property, the monosaccharide ends up reacting with an aldehyde group or a ketone group
within the molecule, and a cyclic structure is formed as the result.

R O H
H
R OH + R´ C C
O
R´ OH
Alcohol Aldehyde
Hemiacetal

H O
1 Aldehyde
C 6

2
CH2OH CH2OH
H C OH 5
C OH O
3 H H H H
HO C H 4 H 1 H
4 C C
H C OH OH H OH H
O OH
5
HO C
3 2
C HO
H C OH Aldehyde
H OH H OH
6
CH2OH

The OH in the fifth position of

...to form a cyclical
the monosaccharide reacts
structure.
with the aldehyde...

Photosynthesis and Respiration 63

Why Do We Need to Breathe?
...but do you
know why?
As you know, human
beings are constantly
breathing...

Yes! It's because we must take in

the oxygen contained in the air
and expel carbon dioxide.

Wha?!

That's right. But, more Hmmm...

specifically, our cells
require oxygen to create So to put it another way, we need
the energy they need to oxygen to make energy from the
keep us alive. food we eat!
Healthy
and
So Eat Create strong!
hungry... dinner energy

needs oxygen

"Gotta create more

ATP today! I need some
nutrients and oxygen!"

Oxygen is absolutely
necessary for
decomposing glucose
and extracting its energy.

64 Chapter 2
 When we take in
oxygen and expel
carbon dioxide, it's
called respiration.

However, the reaction in which

cells absorb oxygen, break
down glucose to create energy,
and emit carbon dioxide is also
called respiration.
You want
energy?

e oxygen!
Gimm e som
m e glucose!
Gimm e so

Wait, they're both

Well, to distinguish them, we call
called respiration? I'm
the process of breathing external
going to mix them up
respiration and the process inside
for sure...
of cells internal (or cellular)
respiration.

External Internal
respiration respiration

That's right. From now on So we'll be studying the

when we say "respiration," reaction inside of cells, not
we'll be referring to the kind of respiration I'm
internal respiration. doing right now.

inhale

Internal!
Got that?

exhale
Respiration Is A Reaction That Breaks
Down Glucose To Create Energy
Organisms like us break
down starch into glucose,
Saccharides that are created by which is used to make ATP,
plants through photosynthesis with the assistance of the
are stored in the form of oxygen that we breathe in.
starch, which we animals eat.

Glucose
M mM ,
yummy Energy

That's internal respiration!

Here, take a look at this.

It's the general formula
for respiration.

Carbon
Glucose Oxygen Water Water Energy
dioxide

Oh, that makes

it crystal clear!
Glucose and oxygen
are consumed, and
carbon dioxide,
water, and energy
are produced.

Now, let's take a closer

And here they are!
look at this reaction.

You can think

of respiration
as having three Glycolysis
stages...

Citric acid cycle*

Electron
transport chain

* This is also called the Krebs cycle or the TCA cycle.