The chemical basis of blood-group specificity resides inthe carbohydrates displayed on the surfaces of red bloodcells. Carbohydrates have the potential for great structuraldiversity. Indeed, the structural complexity of the oligosaccharides that can be formed from four sugars is greaterthan that of the oligopeptides that can be formed from fouramino acids. What properties of carbohydrates make thisgreat structural diversity possible?

Biochemistry
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ISBN:9781319114671
Author:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
Publisher:Lubert Stryer, Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko, Gregory J. Gatto Jr.
Chapter1: Biochemistry: An Evolving Science
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The chemical basis of blood-group specificity resides in
the carbohydrates displayed on the surfaces of red blood
cells. Carbohydrates have the potential for great structural
diversity. Indeed, the structural complexity of the oligosaccharides that can be formed from four sugars is greater
than that of the oligopeptides that can be formed from four
amino acids. What properties of carbohydrates make this
great structural diversity possible?

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