galactose

views updated May 18 2018

galactose A six‐carbon sugar (a monosaccharide) differing from glucose only in position of the hydroxyl group on carbon‐4. It is about one‐third as sweet as sucrose. The main dietary source is the disaccharide lactose in milk, and it is important in formation of the galactolipids (cerebrosides) of nerve tissue. See also galactosaemia.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

galactose

views updated May 18 2018

galactose A simple sugar, C₆H₁₂O₆, stereoisomeric with glucose, that occurs naturally as one of the products of the enzymic digestion of milk sugar (lactose) and as a constituent of gum arabic.

A Dictionary of Biology

galactose

views updated May 23 2018

galactose An aldohexose monosaccharide that is not normally found naturally in the free form, but more usually is found as a unit in a larger molecule (e.g. a di- or polysaccharide).

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences MICHAEL ALLABY

galactose

views updated May 29 2018

galactose An aldohexose monosaccharide that is not normally found naturally in the free form, but usually as a unit in a larger molecule, e.g. a di- or polysaccharide.

A Dictionary of Zoology MICHAEL ALLABY