Xylose
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| D-Xylose[1] | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name |
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| Other names | D-(+)-Xylose; Wood sugar |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [] |
| SMILES |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C5H10O5 |
| Molar mass | 150.13 g/mol |
| Appearance | Monoclinic needles or prisms |
| Density | 1.525 g/cm3 (20 °C) |
| Melting point |
144-145 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references |
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Xylose (cf. Greek ξυλος, xylos, "wood"), or wood sugar, is an aldopentose — a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms and including an aldehyde functional group. It has chemical formula C5H10O5. Xylose is found in the embryos of most edible plants.
It was first prepared from wood by Koch in 1881.
In animal medicine, xylose is used to test for malabsorption by administration in water to the patient after fasting. If xylose is detected in blood and/or urine within the next few hours, it has been absorbed by the intestines.[2] Reduction of xylose by catalytic hydrogenation produces the sugar substitute xylitol. Both xylose and xylitol are reducing sugars.
Xylose is also the first saccharide added to the serine or threonine in the proteoglycan type O-glycosylation and so it is the first saccharide in biosynthetic pathways of most anionic polysaccharides such as heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 9995.
- ^ D-xylose absorption, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- ^ Buskas T, Ingale S, Boons GJ (2006). "Glycopeptides as versatile tool for glycobiology". Glycobiology 16 (8): 113R–136R. doi:. PMID 16675547.
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