Polysaccharides: Difference between revisions

<scene name='Polysaccharides/Cellulose_1_chain/3'>Cellulose</scene><ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulose Cellulose]</ref> is a polysaccharide with glucose units connected only by β(1→4) linkages, and therefore is unbranched. Notice that every other glucose residue is flipped 180° with respect to the preceding residue. This configuration can be best identified by observing on what side of the chain C-6 of glucose is located. Since the linkage is β, this configuration is necessary in order for the <scene name='Polysaccharides/Cellulose_1_chain2/5'>glycosidic oxygen</scene> to have its normal angular geometry. Observe that of the two residues highlighted the lower right one is flipped. Moving down the chain to the <scene name='Polysaccharides/Cellulose_1_chain3/1'>next linkage</scene> notice that the oxygen on C-1 having the β configuration projects down because the glucose residue has been flipped 180° and that the next residue in its normal orientation is properly positioned to bond with the oxygen forming the angular geometry for oxygen. <scene name='Polysaccharides/Cellulose_1_chain4/1'>Next residue</scene> is in the flipped position.