Galactose

Authors:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Synonym(s)

Aldohexose; CAS number: 59-23-4; D-Galactose; Gal; Galactose; Galactosum; Lactulose; Mucilage sugar

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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.

Authors

Last updated on: 29.10.2020

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles