Question

How are monosaccharides related to monomers and polymers?

Answer 1

Polymers are substances made up of a large number of repeating molecules i.e. monomers. They make up many materials in living organisms like proteins, cellulose, etc.

Complete answer:
Macromolecules are large molecules made up of a large number of atoms. Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids all are macromolecules. Almost all macromolecules are polymers made up of monomers like monosaccharides are the monomers of carbohydrates. The monosaccharides are referred to as “simple sugars “.The monomers of carbohydrates or the examples of monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, and galactose.

When two units of monosaccharide are covalently joined they are called disaccharides. These disaccharides are synthesized by a dehydration reaction. Example: sucrose (Glucose + Fructose), maltose (glucose + glucose). Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates made up of 2-9 units of monomers joined by linkages example of oligosaccharides is Raffinose (Glucose galactose + fructose) and Stachyose (sucrose + 2 galactose).

Polysaccharides are the long chains (polymers) made up of the many subunits of monosaccharides joined by the glycosidic linkages. Examples of polysaccharides are starch and cellulose. Starch is a polysaccharide made up of a large number of glucose monomers. Starch and cellulose are the major components in the plants.

Note: Humans do not have enzymes for the oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (cellulose) digestion in their body but the bacteria in their guts have those enzymes. Chitin, an important component of the exoskeletons in arthropods and the cell wall of fungi is also a polysaccharide.