14 UNITY AND DIVERSITY IN BIOCHEMISTRY 



The simplest of the jS-keto-acids is acetoacetic acid. 



O 



// 

 CH3— C— CH2— c 



II \ 



O OH 



There are ^-keto-acids corresponding to the different fatty acids as 

 shown below : 



R— CHo— CH2— COOH -* R— C— CH2— COOH 



II 



O 

 The keto-acids can exist in a ketonic or in an enolic form : 



R— C— CH2— COOH R— C=CH— COOH 



II I 



O OH 



ketonic form enolic form 



B, The Sugars or "Oses" 

 These are characterized by the presence of the "ose" grouping : 



O 



c 



CHOH 



I 



The simplest are those with two carbon atoms, the bioses. For example, 

 glycollic aldehyde, the lowest member of the alcohol-aldehyde series which 

 is obtained by oxidation of glycol : 



H O 



\ // 



CH2OH 9 



CH2OH H-C-H 



OH 



Glycol Glycollic aldehyde 



REFERENCES 



Marklen, K. S. (1947) Fatty Acids. Their Chemistry and Physical Properties. 



Interscience, New York. 

 Ralston, A. W. (1948) Fatty Acids and their Derivatives. Wiley, New York. 



