Synonym(s)
Aldohexose; CAS number: 59-23-4; D-Galactose; Gal; Galactose; Galactosum; Lactulose; Mucilage sugar
DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Galactose (off. DAC86, Ph.Helv.7) is a hexose, a water-soluble simple sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6, which occurs in D and L form. Galactose is particularly present in animals. It occurs in most living organisms as a component of di-, oligo- and polycondensates (polysaccharides).
Galactose is a component of the oligosaccharide lactose. Furthermore, glacatose occurs as a building block of cerebrosides and gangliosides of animal nervous tissue.
In plants, galactose is a component of melibiose, raffinose and galactans (like agar-agar). Galactans are polysaccharides that are mainly composed of galactose molecules.
Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer
Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles