National University- Sudan

Faculty of Medicine

First Year
Semester (2)

Basic Biochemistry (ME-BIOCH 118)

Lecture (4)

Lecture Title: Glycosidic bonds and

disaccharides
Glycosidic bonds and
disaccharides

Dr. Nesreen I. Alsanousi

Learning objectives:

✓ Define glycosidic bond.

✓ Describe the monosaccharide units and linkages

in disaccharides.

✓Identify several major functions of disaccharides

Glycosidic bond
• The glycosidic linkage connects two
monosaccharides

• A glycosidic bond is formed between the hemiacetal

or hemiketal group of a saccharide (or a molecule
derived from a saccharide) and the hydroxyl group
of some compound such as an alcohol.

• A substance containing a glycosidic bond is a

glycoside
Formation of glycosidic bond
 Disaccharides
A disaccharide
♦consists of two monosaccharides linked together.

♦is formed when two monosaccharides combine in a

dehydration reaction.

Monosaccharides Disaccharide
glucose + glucose maltose + H2O
glucose + galactose lactose + H2O
glucose + fructose sucrose + H2O

The most common disaccharides are maltose, lactose,

and sucrose.
MALTOSE

♦ Maltose (malt sugar or corn sugar) consists of two

glucose molecules linked by an α-1,4-glycosidic
bond
♦ It comes from partial hydrolysis of starch and
also in grains (like barley) by the enzyme amylase,
which is in saliva

♦ Maltose is a disaccharide also known as malt

sugar.
♦ used in cereals, candies, and brewing.
MALTOSE
 Lactose (Milk Sugar)

♦is a disaccharide found in milk and milk

products.
♦makes up 6–8% of human milk and about 4–
5% of cow’s milk.
 Hydrolysis of Lactose
♦ Some people don’t produce enough lactase, the enzyme that
hydrolyzes lactose, and so can’t digest lactose

♦ Many adults become lactose intolerant,

and develop abdominal cramps, nausea
and diarrhea
♦ Lactase can be added to milk products
(or taken as a supplement) to combat
this problem
 Sucrose (Table Sugar)
♦ Consists of α-D-glucose and β-D-fructose.
♦ Has an α,β-(1 , 2)-glycosidic bond between carbon 1 of
glucose and carbon 2 of fructose.
♦ Sucrose is the most abundant disaccharide and is
commercially produced from sugar cane and sugar beets
 Hydrolysis of Sucrose
♦ Sucrose is hydrolyzed by the enzyme sucrase,
which is secreted in the small intestine
♦ The glucose and fructose can then be absorbed
into the bloodstream (disaccharides are too
large to be absorbed)
 Study Check
Identify the monosaccharides in each of the
following:
A. Lactose
(1) α-D-Glucose (2) β-D-Fructose (3) β-D-Galactose

B. Maltose
(1) α-D-Glucose (2) β-D-Fructose (3) β-D-Galactose

C. Sucrose
(1) α-D-Glucose (2) β-D-Fructose (3) β-D-Galactose
Thank you!

Questions?