Melezitose

Melezitose
Names
	IUPAC name (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[[(2S,3S,4R,5R)-4-hydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-3-[[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-tetrahydropyranyl]oxy]-2-tetrahydrofuranyl]oxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran-3,4,5-triol
	Other names Melicitose
Identifiers
CAS Number	597-12-6 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChEBI	CHEBI:6731 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL386007 ;
ChemSpider	83787 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.008.997
PubChem CID	92817;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID20883458 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C18H32O16/c19-1-5-8(23)11(26)13(28)16(30-5)32-15-10(25)7(3-21)33-18(15,4-22)34-17-14(29)12(27)9(24)6(2-20)31-17/h5-17,19-29H,1-4H2/t5-,6-,7-,8-,9-,10-,11+,12+,13-,14-,15+,16-,17-,18+/m1/s1 Key: QWIZNVHXZXRPDR-WSCXOGSTSA-N ; InChI=1/C18H32O16/c19-1-5-8(23)11(26)13(28)16(30-5)32-15-10(25)7(3-21)33-18(15,4-22)34-17-14(29)12(27)9(24)6(2-20)31-17/h5-17,19-29H,1-4H2/t5-,6-,7-,8-,9-,10-,11+,12+,13-,14-,15+,16-,17-,18+/m1/s1 Key: QWIZNVHXZXRPDR-WSCXOGSTBR;
	SMILES O1[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O[C@@]3(O[C@@H]([C@@H](O)[C@@H]3O[C@H]2O[C@H](CO)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]2O)CO)CO;
Properties
Chemical formula	C18H32O16
Molar mass	504.44 g/mol
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Melezitose, also spelled melicitose, is a nonreducing trisaccharide sugar that is produced by many plant sap eating insects, including aphids such as Cinara pilicornis by an enzyme reaction. This is beneficial to the insects, as it reduces the stress of osmosis by reducing their own water potential. The melezitose is part of the honeydew which acts as an attractant for ants and also as a food for bees. This is useful to the lice as they have a symbiotic relationship with ants. Melezitose can be partially hydrolyzed to glucose and turanose the latter of which is an isomer of sucrose.

References