Page 156 - The Manga Guide to Biochemistry
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They can connect only as you see in this diagram—vertically, rather than horizontally.
O
j
Branch O →α(1 6) glycosidic bond
oCH2
O
O OOO
jm jm jm O
O O O
Oh! So that’s why a branch happens at that point, and that’s what makes it springy.
We’re really getting to the bottom of things! ♪
By the way, there’s another type of bond that connects carbons in glucose. It’s called
the β(1→4) glycosidic bond.
Beta? What’s the difference?
Beta means no starch! When glucose molecules are connected via β(1→4) glycosidic
bonds, the polysaccharide cellulose is formed rather than starch. This is the main
component for creating cell walls in plants, and it’s also a type of dietary fiber.
Oh yeah! I read about dietary fiber in the latest issue of Dieter’s Digest. It’s difficult to
digest, so it just passes right through the body. Heh heh.
That’s correct. But dietary fiber also includes substances that easily dissolve in water,
such as hemicellulose or pectin, and these are easily digested.
Weird! Are they energy sources for us too?
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