Anomer

An anomer, is a specific type of epimer, which are both terms used within biochemistry. At the anomeric/chiral carbon within a cyclic saccharide, two stereoisomers can form. An anomer, is one of the stereoisomers that forms, as a result of the cyclic molecules stereochemistry.They differ at carbon 1 if they are aldoses, or at carbon 2 if they are ketoses.Anomers come in alpha and beta forms; which is determined by the location of the OH group on c1 and CH2OH group on c5. If the two groups are both on the same side of the cyclic ring, the conformation is beta. Whereas, if the two groups are on opposite sides, the structure becomes alpha.