mannoside

Mannoside refers to a glycoside in which mannose is the attached monosaccharide. Mannose is a sugar, an epimer of glucose, that plays a role in various biological processes. Glycosides are compounds where a sugar molecule is bonded to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. In the case of mannosides, this bond connects mannose to a non-carbohydrate group, known as the aglycone.

These compounds are found in nature and can be formed through enzymatic or chemical reactions. Mannosides are important in biological systems, often participating in cell recognition and signaling. For instance, mannose-containing glycoproteins are involved in the immune system's recognition of pathogens. The structure of a mannoside is determined by the specific mannose isomer involved (alpha or beta anomer) and the nature of the aglycone. They can be synthesized in laboratories for research purposes or for potential therapeutic applications. Understanding the structure and function of mannosides is crucial for fields such as glycobiology and medicinal chemistry.