alphaLarabinofuranosyl

alpha-Larabinofuranosyl refers to a specific type of glycosidic linkage found in carbohydrates. The "alpha" indicates the stereochemical configuration at the anomeric carbon, which is the carbon atom in a hemiacetal or hemiketal that is derived from the carbonyl group of the parent sugar. In this case, the anomeric carbon is in the alpha configuration. "L-arabinofuranosyl" describes the sugar moiety involved. L-arabinose is an aldopentose, meaning it is a five-carbon sugar with an aldehyde functional group. The "furanosyl" part specifies that the sugar exists in its five-membered ring (furanose) form. Therefore, an alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl unit is an L-arabinose molecule in its furanose form, linked to another molecule (typically another sugar or an aglycone) through an alpha glycosidic bond. These linkages are important in the structure and function of various complex carbohydrates, such as polysaccharides and glycoproteins, found in plants and microorganisms. The specific arrangement of these alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl units contributes to the overall properties and biological activity of these larger molecules.