MEDE 0001 Assignment 1. a.

___________DKY Shum

Draw a cyclic structure of glucose and number the carbons in the structure.

H H H H b.

Name the glycosidic bond responsible for forming (i) linear polymers of glucose as in amylose;

-1,4 glycosidic bond

(ii) c. branched points within linear polymers of glucose as in glycogen.

-1,6 glycosidic bond

The glycosidic bonds between glucose units in the linear region of glycogen can be cleaved by the action of (i) glycogen phosphorylase (in liver, muscle and brain) or (ii) amylase (in saliva and pancreatic juice). Which glycosidic bond(s) is(are) cleaved (i) by the action of glycogen phosphorylase to produce phosphorylated glucose ?(ii) by amylase to produce oligomers of glucose ?

(i) -1,4 glycosidic bond

(ii) -1,4 glycosidic bond 2. Chitin is a polymer of N-acetylglucosamine units. De-acetylation of some of the Nacetylglucosamine units increases the solubility of the polymer in water. Explain the structural basis for the change in solubility of the polymer. As solubility of the polymer in water depends on the ability of the polymer to form bonds with water, as the polymer is large the intramolecular Hydrogen bonds formation is extensive inside The large polymer chain as the N-acetylglucosamine contains 4 OH groups and can easily form Extensive intramolecular hydrogen bond which will make less OH group available for forming intermolecular bond with water, which in turns lowering the solubility. While deacetylation Frees the monomer from the polymer which decreases the number of intramolecular hydrogen Bond and increases the amount of OH group available and thus increases the number of intermolecular Hydrogen bond formed. So the solubility of the polymer increases in water. Glycans that are conjugated to lipids or proteins play roles other than as energy store in cells. Complete the table with (a) a named glycoconjugate and the sugar residue involved in the conjugation (b) cellular localization and (c) biological function of the glycan moiety. (a) Name of glycoconjugate (b) cellular localization Sugar residue in linkage with the lipid or protein (i) a glycolipid Galactolipid with galactose to Membrane lipid the lipid (c) function of the glycan moiety

3.

Direct role photosynthesis

in

N-Acetylgalactosamine

Membrane surface of Red blood cell of Blood group A

Help identify the host and pathogens for cell recognition aids in platelet activation signal transduction, the process by which external stimuli regulate internal cellular functioning. provides much of its resistance to compression tumour metastasis, blood coagulation

(ii) a glycoprotein glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Co-receptors immunoglobulin of

an integrin complex found on platelets the found on helper T cells

(iii) a proteoglycan Chondroitin sulfate

component of cartilage especially basement membranes

heparan sulfate