Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2023

First exams 2025

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The Glycosidic Bond (CIE AS Biology)

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Cara Head

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Cara Head

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Forming the Glycosidic Bond

  • To make monosaccharides more suitable for transport, storage and to have less influence on a cell’s osmolarity, they are bonded together to form disaccharides and polysaccharides
  • Disaccharides and polysaccharides are formed when two hydroxyl (-OH) groups (on different saccharides) interact to form a strong covalent bond called the glycosidic bond (the oxygen link that holds the two molecules together)
  • Every glycosidic bond results in one water molecule being removed, thus glycosidic bonds are formed by condensation

Glycosidic Bond Formation Diagram

Sucrose formation, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The formation of a glycosidic bond by condensation between two monosaccharides (glucose) to form a disaccharide (maltose)

  • Each glycosidic bond is catalysed by enzymes specific to which OH groups are interacting
  • As there are many different monosaccharides this results in different types of glycosidic bonds forming (e.g maltose has a α-1,4 glycosidic bond and sucrose has a α-1,2 glycosidic bond)

Glycosidic Bond Formation Diagram

sucrose-formation-newThe formation of a glycosidic bond by condensation between α-glucose and β-fructose to form a disaccharide (sucrose)

Glycosidic Bond Formation Diagram

Breaking of a glycosidic bond, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

The formation of glycosidic bonds to create a polysaccharide (amylopectin)

Types of Glycosidic Bonds Table

Sugar Type of Glycosidic bond Type of Molecule
Maltose α 1,4 Disaccharide
Sucrose α 1,2 Disaccharide
Cellulose β 1,4 Polysaccharide
Amylose α 1,4 Polysaccharide
Amylopectin α 1,4 and α 1,6 Polysaccharide

Examiner Tip

Make sure you can identify where the glycosidic bond is in a carbohydrate.

Breaking the Glycosidic Bond

  • The glycosidic bond is broken when water is added in a hydrolysis (meaning ‘hydro’ - with water and ‘lyse’ - to break) reaction
  • Disaccharides and polysaccharides are broken down in hydrolysis reactions
  • Hydrolytic reactions are catalysed by enzymes, these are different to those present in condensation reactions
  • Examples of hydrolytic reactions include the digestion of food in the alimentary tract and the breakdown of stored carbohydrates in muscle and liver cells for use in cellular respiration

Hydrolysis of Glycosidic Bond Diagram

Breaking of a glycosidic bond, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Biology revision notes

Glycosidic bonds are broken by the addition of water in a hydrolysis reaction

  • Sucrose is a non-reducing sugar which gives a negative result in a Benedict’s test
    • When sucrose is heated with hydrochloric acid this provides the water that hydrolyses the glycosidic bond resulting in two monosaccharides that will produce a positive Benedict's test

Hydrolysis of Glycosidic Bond Diagram

hydrolysis-of-sucrose-2

A molecule of glucose and a molecule of fructose are formed when one molecule of sucrose is hydrolysed; the addition of water to the glycosidic bond breaks it

Examiner Tip

Remember that disaccharides hydrolyse to two monosaccharides whereas polysaccharides must undergo many hydrolytic reactions until they form monosaccharides.

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Cara Head

Author: Cara Head

Expertise: Biology

Cara graduated from the University of Exeter in 2005 with a degree in Biological Sciences. She has fifteen years of experience teaching the Sciences at KS3 to KS5, and Psychology at A-Level. Cara has taught in a range of secondary schools across the South West of England before joining the team at SME. Cara is passionate about Biology and creating resources that bring the subject alive and deepen students' understanding