Quick Recap — Classification & Function

  • Sugars: aldose vs ketose; reducing vs non-reducing; α\alpha/β\beta anomers; starch (digestible α\alpha) vs cellulose (indigestible β\beta).
  • Proteins: fibrous (structural, insoluble) vs globular (functional, soluble); enzymes are globular catalysts; denaturation is often irreversible.
  • Vitamins: water-soluble (B, C) excreted, fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) stored; specific deficiency diseases.
  • Nucleic acids: DNA stores information (double helix, A-T/G-C); RNA (mRNA/tRNA/rRNA) expresses it.