Sucrose

Definition

Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule linked together by a glycosidic bond. It is commonly known as table sugar and serves as a major carbohydrate source in the human diet, providing energy and sweetness to various foods. Sucrose plays a crucial role in metabolism, being easily broken down by enzymes to release its constituent monosaccharides for energy production.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sucrose is commonly derived from sugar cane and sugar beets, making it widely available in food products.
2. The enzyme sucrase or invertase breaks down sucrose into glucose and fructose during digestion.
3. In plants, sucrose functions as a transport form of carbohydrates, moving energy from photosynthetic tissues to other parts of the plant.
4. Excessive consumption of sucrose has been linked to health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and dental cavities.
5. Sucrose has a unique chemical formula of C12H22O11, indicating that it is made up of 12 carbon atoms, 22 hydrogen atoms, and 11 oxygen atoms.

Review Questions

• How does sucrose differ from its constituent monosaccharides in terms of structure and function?
  • Sucrose is a disaccharide formed by the combination of glucose and fructose through a glycosidic bond. In contrast, glucose and fructose are monosaccharides with distinct structures; glucose has an aldehyde group while fructose has a ketone group. Functionally, sucrose serves as an energy source that must be broken down into its monosaccharide components before it can be utilized by the body, whereas glucose and fructose can be directly used for energy.
• Discuss the role of sucrose in both plant metabolism and human nutrition.
  • In plants, sucrose acts as a key transport carbohydrate that moves energy from leaves (where photosynthesis occurs) to other parts of the plant for growth and storage. In human nutrition, sucrose provides an important source of energy and sweetness in food. It can rapidly increase blood glucose levels, making it an immediate source of energy, but excessive intake can lead to negative health consequences such as insulin resistance.
• Evaluate the implications of high sucrose consumption on public health, particularly concerning metabolic diseases.
  • High consumption of sucrose has significant implications for public health, particularly in relation to metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. As sucrose is quickly metabolized into glucose, it can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Over time, this can contribute to insulin resistance and obesity due to excess caloric intake. Public health initiatives are increasingly focusing on reducing added sugars in diets to combat these health issues, emphasizing the need for awareness about sugar consumption.

Related terms

Glucose: A simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is an essential energy source for living organisms and is the primary product of photosynthesis.

Fructose: A simple sugar (monosaccharide) found in many plants, often bonded with glucose to form sucrose; it is sweeter than glucose and is metabolized differently.

Glycosidic Bond: A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group, which may or may not be another carbohydrate.