This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2022) |
It has been suggested that this article be merged into Carbohydrate. (Discuss) Proposed since January 2024. |
Carbohydrate chemistry is a subdiscipline of chemistry primarily concerned with the detection, synthesis, structure, and function of carbohydrates.[1] Due to the general structure of carbohydrates, their synthesis is often preoccupied with the selective formation of glycosidic linkages and the selective reaction of hydroxyl groups; as a result, it relies heavily on the use of protecting groups.
Monosaccharides
editIndividual saccharide residues are termed monosaccharides.
Carbohydrate synthesis
editCarbohydrate synthesis is a sub-field of organic chemistry concerned specifically with the generation of natural and unnatural carbohydrate structures. This can include the synthesis of monosaccharide residues or structures containing more than one monosaccharide, known as oligosaccharides.
Glycosidic bond formation
editProtecting groups
edit- Carbohydrate acetalisation
- Trimethylsilyl
- Benzyl Ether
- para-methoxybenzyl ether
Oligosaccharides
editReactions of carbohydrates
editCarbohydrates are reactants in many organic reactions. For example:
Functions of carbohydrates
editCarbohydrates have four major functions within the body:
- Energy supply, particularly for the brain in the form of glucose
- Avoiding the breakdown of amino acids for energy
- Avoiding ketosis from the breakdown of fatty acids
- Cellular and protein recognition
Energy supply, particularly for the brain in the form of glucose
editAvoiding the breakdown of amino acids for energy
editAvoiding ketosis from the breakdown of fatty acids
editCellular and protein recognition
editGlycoprotein hormones may be removed by the liver from the bloodstream when the passage of time causes the breaking-off of carbohydrates from the glycoproteins.[citation needed]
See also
editCarbohydrate structure
edit- Anomeric effect
- Carbohydrate
- Carbohydrate conformation
- Disaccharide
- Glycosidic bond
- Monosaccharide
- Polysaccharide
Carbohydrate function and biology
editReferences
edit- ^ Ruppersberg, Klaus; Rautenstrauch, Hanne; Thomsen, Stefan (5 April 2022). "Know Thy Carbs! Safer Carbohydrate Detection Methods for School Labs – Part 1". ChemistryViews. doi:10.1002/chemv.202200022. S2CID 247988541.
External links
edit- Media related to Carbohydrate chemistry at Wikimedia Commons
- Functions of Carbohydrates