Glycosidic bonds

Glycosidic bonds are a type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group, which may or may not be another carbohydrate. They are central to many important biological processes and are a key structural component of many natural products and pharmaceuticals.

Formation

Glycosidic bonds are formed in a process called glycosylation. In this process, a monosaccharide or polysaccharide (sugar) is joined to a functional group or molecule. This reaction involves the elimination of a water molecule, a process known as dehydration synthesis.

Types

There are two types of glycosidic bonds: O-glycosidic bonds and N-glycosidic bonds.

O-glycosidic bonds

In an O-glycosidic bond, the bond forms between an anomeric carbon atom and a hydroxyl group of another molecule. The resulting structure is a type of ether.

N-glycosidic bonds

In an N-glycosidic bond, the bond forms between an anomeric carbon atom and a nitrogen atom of another molecule. This type of bond is found in many important biological molecules, including nucleotides and antibiotics.

Role in Biology

Glycosidic bonds play a crucial role in biology. They are involved in the formation of DNA and RNA, the storage and transport of energy (in the form of glycogen and starch), and in the immune response (through antibodies). They are also a key component of many natural products and pharmaceuticals.

Hydrolysis

Glycosidic bonds can be broken down by a process called hydrolysis. This is the reverse of the dehydration synthesis reaction that forms the bond. Hydrolysis is a common biological reaction and is used in digestion to break down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars.

See also

• Carbohydrate chemistry
• Monosaccharide
• Polysaccharide
• Glycosylation
• Dehydration synthesis
• Hydrolysis

Glycosidic bonds Resources
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