Derivatives of Monosaccharides
Start with the big picture
Sugar derivatives arise from changes to a monosaccharide’s carbonyl group, hydroxyl groups, or anomeric carbon. Oxidation produces aldonic, uronic, or aldaric acids, depending on the carbon atoms affected; glucuronic acid also participates in conjugation that supports excretion. Reduction forms sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, whose accumulation can contribute to osmotic damage in uncontrolled diabetes. Deoxy and amino sugars have specific hydroxyl-group substitutions and contribute to structures such as DNA and glycoproteins. Sugar phosphates are metabolic intermediates, while nucleotide sugars act as activated donors. Glycosides link a sugar’s anomeric carbon to an aglycone. Together, these categories show how small chemical modifications give sugars diverse roles in metabolism, structural biology, and detoxification.
What you'll learn
- Classify sugar acids by the position of oxidation and identify representative examples.
- Describe how reduction forms sugar alcohols and relate selected polyols to clinical effects.
- Distinguish deoxy sugars and amino sugars by their structural modifications and examples.
- Explain the roles of sugar phosphates and nucleotide sugars in metabolism and synthesis.
- Define glycosides and distinguish them from other monosaccharide derivatives.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
