Oligosaccharide

Oligosaccharides (pronounced: oh-lee-go-sack-uh-rides) are a type of carbohydrate that consists of a small number of monosaccharides (simple sugars) linked together. The term "oligosaccharide" is derived from the Greek words "oligo" meaning few, and "saccharide" meaning sugar.

Etymology

The term "oligosaccharide" was first used in the late 19th century and is derived from the Greek "oligo", meaning "few", and "saccharide", meaning "sugar". This is in reference to the small number of monosaccharide units that make up oligosaccharides.

Types of Oligosaccharides

There are several types of oligosaccharides, including disaccharides, trisaccharides, and tetrasaccharides, which are composed of two, three, and four monosaccharides respectively. Some common examples of oligosaccharides include lactose, maltose, and sucrose.

Function

Oligosaccharides play a crucial role in various biological functions. They are involved in cell recognition and cell interaction, they provide energy, and they play a role in immune response. In addition, oligosaccharides found in breast milk are known to have beneficial effects on the health of infants.

Related Terms

Monosaccharide: The simplest form of sugar and the most basic units of carbohydrates.
Polysaccharide: A carbohydrate (e.g., starch, cellulose, or glycogen) whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together.
Glycosidic bond: A type of covalent bond that joins a carbohydrate (sugar) molecule to another group, which may or may not be another carbohydrate.
Glycoprotein: Any of a class of proteins that have carbohydrate groups attached to the polypeptide chain.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Oligosaccharide
Wikipedia's article - Oligosaccharide

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Oligosaccharide