Page 145 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry

Monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides

Earlier we said that sucrose, glucose, and fructose all have different structures.
(See page 63 for details.)

Right! There are a bunch of different kinds of saccharides, and I love eating all
of them.

Well, now it’s time to learn more about those different saccharides!
The basic unit of saccharides is called a monosaccharide, which is formed by at

least three carbon atoms connected together.
Glucose and fructose are monosaccharides that consist of six carbon atoms. If

two or more monosaccharides are attached, they become an oligosaccharide.
Although sucrose is an oligosaccharide, since it’s formed by connecting only two

monosaccharides, it’s called a disaccharide. Here’s what these saccharides look like:

CH2OH

HC O

C H HC
OH
CH2OH
CH2OH O HO C C
HC OH OH
H OH
H HC O
C OH C OH C H OH C CH2OH O

HO C H C C CH2OH C H OH C

H OH OH H H C C CH2OH

OH H

Glucose Fructose Sucrose

Oh, so sucrose is made up of one glucose and one fructose connected together!

Biochemistry in Our Everyday Lives 131