Question

Describe the difference between how an alpha link is constructed and how a beta link is made.

-This is in terms of glucose.

Thank you! :)

Answer 1

It would help a lot of you used words instead of pictures and diagrams. Thanks. :)

Answer 2

A glycosidic bond is formed through the condensation of a hemiacetal and a hydroxyl into an acetal. What differentiates an alpha link and a beta link is the orientation of the hydroxyl at the anomeric carbon, \(C_1\). An axial hydroxyl will yield an alpha link, while an equatorial hydroxyl will yield a beta link, (this configuration applies to furanoses, and pyranoses only in the \(^4C_1\) chair conformation.)

Answer 3

To keep it simple, beta glucose linkages have the hydroxyl group on opposite sides and alternate so one would be "up" and the other would be "down" and so on. Alpha glucose linkages only have the hydroxyl group on one side. Because of the way beta glucose molecules are formed, the human body cannot break it down, like cellulose. However, we can break down chitin which is an exception. I attached a pic, so take a look! Hope it helps!

Answer 4

Thanks. This helped a lot. @wara