Amino sugar

Definition

An amino sugar is a type of monosaccharide (simple sugar) where a hydroxyl group (-OH) is replaced by an amino group (-NH2). These sugars are essential components of biomolecules like glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Related terms

Monosaccharides: The simplest form of carbohydrates that cannot be hydrolyzed to smaller carbohydrates.

Glycoproteins: Proteins that contain oligosaccharide chains covalently attached to polypeptide side-chains, often involving amino sugars in their structure.

Glycolipids: Lipids with a carbohydrate attached by a glycosidic bond, frequently incorporating amino sugars, crucial for cell recognition and membrane structure