Galactose

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

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Last updated on: 13.10.2024

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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 is a hexose, a water-soluble simple sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6, which occurs in D and L form. Galactose is particularly prevalent in the animal kingdom. It is found in most living organisms as a building block of di-, oligo- and polycondensates (polysaccharides).

Galactose is a building block of the oligosaccharide lactose. Galactose also occurs as a building block of cerebrosides and gangliosides of animal nervous tissue.

In plants, galactose is a component of melibiose, raffinose and galactans (such as agar-agar). Galactans are polysaccharides that are mainly composed of galactose molecules.

Authors

Last updated on: 13.10.2024

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