GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : Help with Saccharides and Carbohydrates

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Help With Saccharides And Carbohydrates

Sucrose is a polysaccharide made up of __________ and __________.

Possible Answers:

-glucose . . . fructose

-glucose . . . glucose

ribose . . . glucose

-glucose . . . galactose

Correct answer:

-glucose . . . fructose

Explanation:

Sucrose is one of the more common sugars, and is composed of glucose and fructose. Sucrose is also known as table sugar.

Galactose and glucose are the components of lactose. Maltose is made up of two glucose molecules. 

Example Question #2 : Help With Saccharides And Carbohydrates

Which of the following is the primary reason that starch can be digested by humans, but cellulose cannot?

Possible Answers:

Presence of branching subunits

Number of monomers in the chain

Type of glycosidic linkage

Aldose versus ketose monosaccharide structure

Correct answer:

Type of glycosidic linkage

Explanation:

Both starch and cellulose are polysaccharides composed of glucose monosaccharides, but only starch can be digested by humans. The reason for this lies in the type of glycosidic linkages between glucose monomers. Starch has alpha (1-4) linkages which can be broken down, but cellulose has beta (1-4) linkages. Humans do not have the necessary enzyme to digest this type of glycosidic linkage.

Example Question #3 : Help With Saccharides And Carbohydrates

Which of the following sugars is a ketose?

Possible Answers:

Galactose

Glucose

Fructose

Ribose

Correct answer:

Fructose

Explanation:

A ketose is defined as any monsaccharide that has a ketone functional group while in its linear form. Fructose is a ketose, while the other three options are all aldoses.

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

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