Tag: Alpha 1 4 linkage

In biochemistry, a crucial covalent bond found in complex carbohydrates like starch and glycogen is the alpha 1 to 4 linkage. This specific connection between sugar molecules plays a fundamental role in determining the polymer's overall structure, function, and digestibility.

Maltose is a naturally occurring disaccharide that is created during the breakdown of starches, such as those found in grains and potatoes. It is technically a maltobiose, composed of two glucose molecules joined together. Known as 'malt sugar', this carbohydrate plays a key role in the brewing industry and is also produced in the human digestive system.

Starch, the primary energy storage polysaccharide in plants, is composed of two types of molecules: amylose and amylopectin, which typically make up 20–30% and 70–80% of starch, respectively. The defining difference between the glycosidic bonds in amylose vs amylopectin is the presence of α-1,6 linkages in amylopectin, which are absent in the linear amylose molecule.