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Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides are the building blocks of carbohydrates. Common monosaccharides, sometimes referred to as simple sugars, are glucose, fructose, ribose, and galactose. These sugars typically consist of a ring structure that consists of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. They often have multiple hydroxyl groups (-OH) attached to the ring structure which makes them highly polar and soluble in water.
Structure
To form more complex carbohydrates, monosaccharides are linked together using glycosidic bonds which are a type of covalent bond. Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides are connected. For example, sucrose consists of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule. Larger carbohydrate polymers may be linear or branched and range in size and complexity. Examples of carbohydrates include starch, glycogen, and sucrose.
Function
The most common function of carbohydrates is energy storage. When digested, these polysaccharides can be broken down into glucose and used as an energy source. However, other carbohydrates are used for structural support (cellulose in plants and chitin in insects) or as part of signaling molecules on the surface of cells. The type and order of sugar monomers determines the properties and functions of the larger carbohydrates.
