Biochemical Implications of Carbohydrate Structure

Very Hard Biochemistry Carbohydrates

In biological systems, carbohydrates serve as a primary source of energy and play critical roles in metabolic processes. The simplest carbohydrates, known as monosaccharides, can combine to form more complex sugars. Glucose, a key monosaccharide, can undergo various biochemical pathways, including glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway. Additionally, the presence of functional groups on carbohydrate molecules affects their reactivity and interaction with other biomolecules.

Consider two monosaccharides: glucose and galactose. Both share a similar molecular formula (C₆H₁₂O₆) but differ in their structure due to the configuration of their hydroxyl groups. This structural variation is key to their distinct biochemical roles. Understanding how these sugars are metabolized provides insight into the regulation of energy production and cellular function.

Which of the following statements best illustrates the effect of structural differences on the biochemical function of glucose and galactose?

Glucose is metabolized exclusively through glycolysis, while galactose can enter cellular respiration at different steps.

Galactose can be directly converted to glucose without any intermediate steps.

The reactivity of glucose is reduced due to the presence of additional methyl groups compared to galactose.

Both glucose and galactose can be phosphorylated at similar rates, but glucose has a higher affinity for hexokinase.

Hint

Submitted9.9K

Correct6.3K

% Correct63%