Biology · Glossary

What is Glycosidic bond, disaccharide?

Also known as: glycosidic bond · disaccharide

Definition 10.5 University Biology — Year 1 · Chapter 10 — Carbohydrates

A glycosidic bond joins the anomeric hydroxyl of one sugar to a hydroxyl of another (or of an alcohol, an amine, a base) by condensation, fixing the anomeric carbon in its α\alpha or β\beta configuration; it is named by the configuration and the carbons joined: α(14)\alpha(1{\to}4), β(14)\beta(1{\to}4), α(16)\alpha(1{\to}6). Two sugars so joined form a disaccharide: maltose (glucose α(14)\alpha(1{\to}4) glucose, from starch digestion), lactose (galactose β(14)\beta(1{\to}4) glucose, the sugar of milk), sucrose (glucose α(12)β\alpha(1{\to}2)\beta fructose, the sugar of plant sap and of the kitchen). In sucrose both anomeric carbons are engaged: it is non-reducing and does not open, which is why plants transport it (Chapter 24).

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