D-Galactose

Biological Activity

Galactose is a simple monosaccharide that serves as an energy source and as an essential component of glycolipids and glycoproteins. Galactose contributes to energy metabolism via its conversion to glucose by the enzymes that constitute the Leloir pathway. Defects in the genes encoding these proteins lead to the metabolic disorder galactosemia.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Galactose is a simple monosaccharide that serves as an energy source and as an essential component of glycolipids and glycoproteins. Galactose contributes to energy metabolism via its conversion to glucose by the enzymes that constitute the Leloir pathway. Defects in the genes encoding these proteins lead to the metabolic disorder galactosemia.

Purification Methods

D-Galactose is crystallised twice from aqueous 80% EtOH at -10o, then dried in a vacuum oven at 90o over P2O5 for 10hours. [Link Biochemical Preparations 3 75 1953, Hansen et al. Biochemical Preparations 4 2 1955.] Also purify it by recrystallising the dried solid (150g) in hot H2O (150mL), then adding hot MeOH (250mL) and hot EtOH (500mL), stirring to mix, filtering through a bed of charcoal, and the clear filtrate is stirred to initiate crystallisation. After standing overnight at 10o, the crystals of the -anomer are filtered off by suction, washed with MeOH, then EtOH, and dried (yield 130g), and more can be obtained by evaporation of the filtrate and washing as before. [Wolfrom & Thompson Methods in Carbohydrate Chemistry I 120 1962, Academic Press, Beilstein 1 IV 4336.]

General Description

D-Galactose, also known as Galactose, D- (8CI), (+)-Galactose, or D-(+)-Galactose, is a monosaccharide that serves as a key component in various biochemical and synthetic applications. It is utilized in the synthesis of chiral ligands for asymmetric catalysis, fluorescent probes for enzyme studies, immunosuppressive marine glycosphingolipids like Plakoside A, and drug-carrying cyclodextrin conjugates for targeted delivery. Its derivatives are involved in heterocyclization reactions and are recognized by galactosyltransferases, highlighting its versatility in organic and medicinal chemistry.

Definition

A monosaccharide commonly occurring in milk sugar or lactose.

Application

Galactose has been used:as a component of galactosyltransferase labeling buffer.as a supplement in MRS broth for the growth of thermophilic lactobacilli.to induce the expression of uncoupling protein (UCP) in yeast transformants.