aldosaccharide

Aldosaccharides are a class of monosaccharides, which are the simplest form of carbohydrates. They are characterized by having an aldehyde group (CHO) at the end of the carbon chain, hence the prefix "aldo." Aldosaccharides can have 3 to 7 carbon atoms in their linear form, but they typically exist in a cyclic form due to the hemiacetal linkage between the aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group on another carbon atom. The most common aldosaccharides are trioses, tetroses, pentoses, and hexoses. Glucose, a hexose, is a well-known aldosaccharide that plays a crucial role in energy metabolism. Aldosaccharides can be further classified based on the position of the hemiacetal linkage, leading to different anomers and epimers. They are important in various biological processes, including energy storage, structural components of biomolecules, and signaling molecules.