Chemistry:Carbohydrate chemistry

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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

Individual saccharide residues are termed monosaccharides.

Carbohydrate synthesis

Main page: Chemistry:Carbohydrate synthesis

Carbohydrate 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

Protecting groups

Oligosaccharides

Main page: Chemistry:Oligosaccharide

Reactions of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are reactants in many organic reactions. For example:

Functions of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates have four major functions within the body:

  1. Energy supply, particularly for the brain in the form of glucose
  2. Avoiding the breakdown of amino acids for energy
  3. Avoiding ketosis from the breakdown of fatty acids
  4. Cellular and protein recognition

Energy supply, particularly for the brain in the form of glucose

Main pages: Biology:Carbohydrate catabolism and Chemistry:Glucose

Avoiding the breakdown of amino acids for energy

Avoiding ketosis from the breakdown of fatty acids

Main page: Medicine:Ketosis

Cellular and protein recognition

Main pages: Chemistry:Glycoprotein, Biology:Major histocompatibility complex, Biology:ABO blood group system, and Biology:Antibody

Glycoprotein 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

Carbohydrate structure

Carbohydrate function and biology

References

  1. 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. 

External links