Oligosaccharides

Question 1

Oligosaccharides definition

Answer 1

Consist of 3-10 monosaccharide units joined together by glycoside bonds
Example: maltitriose

Question 2

Existence and significance of oligodisaccharides

Answer 2

-Important as constituents of glycolipids present in cell membrane and glycoproteins
-integral membrane proteins contain covalently attached Oligosaccharides on their extracellular face
-many secreted proteins such as antibodies and coagulation factors also contain Oligosaccharides units
-these Oligosaccharides are attached to either the side-chain O2 atom of serine or threonine amino acids by O-glycosidic linkages or to the side chain nitrogen of asparagine amino acid by N-glycosidic linkages