Dictionary > Chitobiose

Chitobiose

Definition
noun
A dimer comprised of two molecules of glucosamine units joined by β-1,4 bonds, and produced by organisms with chitin in their outer covering such as spiders and insects
Supplement
Chitobiose is a dimer comprised of glucosamine units linked by β-1,4 bonds. It is the repeating unit in chitin. Chitin is a polysaccharide. In particular, it is a polymer of nitrogen-containing polysaccharide (C8H13O5N)n. Animals that produce chitin used it as a tough, protective outer covering. Examples of animals with chitin are the arthropods in their exoskeletons, some arachnids in their hard outer covering, mollusks in their radula, and cephalopods in their beaks. Some fungi species have chitin in their cell walls. The process in which chitin is hydrolyzed into chitobiose with the help of an enzyme is referred to as chitinolysis. Chitinases are the hydrolytic enzymes that break down the glycosidic bonds in chitin.
Chitobiose is a disaccharide amino sugar. Its structure is similar to cellobiose. The difference is the presence of N-acetylamino group on C-2 of chitobiose instead of a hydroxyl group on cellobiose.1
Chitobiose should not be confused with chitobiase, which is the enzyme that hydrolyzes chitobiose.
See also:

Reference(s):

1 Chitobiose. (n.d.) Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary. (2012). Retrieved from https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/chitobiose


You will also like...

Lights' Effect on Growth
Lights’ Effect on Growth

This tutorial elaborates on the effect of light on plant growth. It describes how different plants require different amo..

Still freshwater and plants
Still Freshwater & Plants

Plants in lentic habitats have features not found in terrestrial plants. They acquired these features as they adapt to t..

Early Earth
The Origins of Life

This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

Freshwater aquatic plankton
Freshwater Communities & Plankton

Planktons are microscopic organisms that live suspended in aquatic habitats. There are two groups: the phytoplanktons an..

Lotic community of algal species
Lotic Communities & Algae

Lotic communities have conditions that are rather harsh for typical plants. Thus, the diversity of plant species in loti..

Growth Patterns
Growth Patterns

This tutorial describes the sigmoid curve, annual plant growth, tree growth, human growth, and insect growth as the grow..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics