Galactose
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
| Galactose | |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| MeSH | |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C6H12O6 |
| Molar mass | 180.08 |
| Melting point |
167 degrees C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references | |
|
WikiDoc Resources for Galactose | |
|
Articles | |
|---|---|
|
Most recent articles on Galactose | |
|
Media | |
|
Evidence Based Medicine | |
|
Clinical Trials | |
|
Ongoing Trials on Galactose at Clinical Trials.gov Clinical Trials on Galactose at Google
| |
|
Guidelines / Policies / Govt | |
|
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Galactose
| |
|
Books | |
|
News | |
|
Commentary | |
|
Definitions | |
|
Patient Resources / Community | |
|
Patient resources on Galactose Discussion groups on Galactose Directions to Hospitals Treating Galactose Risk calculators and risk factors for Galactose
| |
|
Healthcare Provider Resources | |
|
Causes & Risk Factors for Galactose | |
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME) | |
|
International | |
|
| |
|
Businness | |
|
Experimental / Informatics | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Galactose (Gal) (also called brain sugar[1]) is a type of sugar which is less sweet than glucose and not very water-soluble. It is considered a nutritive sweetener because it has food energy.
Galactan is a polymer of the sugar galactose. It is found in hemicellulose and can be converted to galactose by hydrolysis.
Sources
It is found in dairy products, in sugar beets and other gums and mucilages.
It is also synthesized by the body, where it forms part of glycolipids and glycoproteins in several tissues.
Relationship to lactose
Galactose is a monosaccharide constituent, together with glucose, of the disaccharide lactose. The hydrolysis of lactose to glucose and galactose is catalyzed by the enzyme lactase, a β-galactosidase. In the human body, glucose is changed into galactose in order to enable the mammary glands to secrete lactose.
Galactose and glucose are produced by hydrolysis of lactose by β-galactosidase. This enzyme is produced by the lac operon in Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Clinical significance
Two studies have suggested a possible link between galactose in milk and ovarian cancer.[1][1] Other studies show no correlation, even in the presence of defective galactose metabolism.[1][1] More recently, pooled analysis done by the Harvard School of Public Health showed no specific correlation between lactose containing foods and ovarian cancer, and showed statistically insignificant increases in risk for consumption of lactose at ≥30 g/d.[1] More research is necessary to ascertain possible risks.
There are some ongoing studies which suggest that galactose may have a role in treatment of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (a kidney disease resulting in kidney failure and proteinuria). This effect is likely to be a result of binding of galactose to FSGS factor.
Structure and isomerism
The first and last -OH groups point the same way and the second and third -OH groups point the other way. D-Galactose has the same configuration at its penultimate carbon as D-glyceraldehyde. Galactose is a diastereomer of glucose.
Liver galactose metabolism
In the liver, galactose is converted to glucose 6-phosphate in the following reactions:
galacto- uridyl phosphogluco-
kinase transferase mutase
gal --------> gal 1 P ------------------> glc 1 P -----------> glc 6 P
^ \
/ v
UDP-glc UDP-gal
^ /
\___________/
epimerase
Metabolic disorders
There are 3 important disorders involving galactose:
| Name | Enzyme | Description |
| Galactosemia | Galactokinase | Causes cataracts and mental retardation. If a galactose-free diet starts sufficiently early, the cataracts will regress without complications however neurological damage is permanent. |
| UDPgalactose-4-epimerase deficiency | UDPgalactose-4-epimerase | Is extremely rare (only 2 reported cases). It causes nerve deafness. |
| Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase deficiency | Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase | Is the most problematic, as galactose-free diets do not have considerable long-term effects. |
References
ca:Galactosa da:Galaktose de:Galaktosefr:Galactose it:Galattosio he:גלקטוז la:Galactosium ms:Galaktosa nl:Galactose ja:ガラクトース no:Galaktosesr:Галактоза sh:Galaktoza fi:Galaktoosi sv:Galaktos th:กาแล็กโทส
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
