Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Carbohydrates and Hypoglycemic Agents > Carbohydrates > Polysaccharides > Oligosaccharides Terms and Definitions

Oligosaccharides

Medical Definition:	Carbohydrates consisting of between two (DISACCHARIDES) and ten MONOSACCHARIDES connected by either an alpha- or beta-glycosidic link. They are found throughout nature in both the free and bound form.
Guide Notes:	GEN; prefer specifics

Oligosaccharides Categories.

	Disaccharides - Oligosaccharides containing two monosaccharide units linked by a glycosidic bond.
	Oligosaccharides, Branched-Chain - Oligosaccharides containing various types of glycosidic linkages that yield branching or antennae. The number of antennae (such as bi-, tri-, tetra-, or penta-antennary) in the oligosaccharides on the PROTEOGLYCANS, GLYCOPROTEINS, or LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDES contribute to their biological activities, such as receptor binding and metabolism.
	Trisaccharides - Oligosaccharides containing three monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds.

Oligosaccharides Medical Definitions and Terms

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