galactose

galactose /ga·lac·tose/ (gah-lak´tōs) a six-carbon aldose epimeric with glucose but less sweet, occurring naturally in both d- and l- forms (the latter in plants). It is a component of lactose and other oligosaccharides, cerebrosides and gangliosides, and glycolipids and glycoproteins.

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ga·lac·tose (g-lkts)

n.

A monosaccharide commonly occurring in lactose. Also called brain sugar.

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Galactose

One of the two simple sugars, together with glucose, that makes up the protein, lactose, found in milk. Galactose can be toxic in high levels.

Mentioned in: Galactosemia, Lactose Intolerance

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galactose

[gəlak′tōs]

Etymology: Gk, gala + glykys, sweet

a simple sugar found in the dextrorotatory form in lactose (milk sugar), nerve cell membranes, sugar beets, gums, and seaweed and in the levorotatory form in flaxseed mucilage. Prepared galactose, a white crystalline substance, is less sweet and less soluble in water than glucose but is similar in other properties.

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galactose (glak´tōs),

n a simple sugar found in the dextrorotatory form in lactose (milk sugar), nerve cell membranes, sugar beets, gums, seaweed, and, in the levorotatory form, in flaxseed mucilage. Galactose, a white crystalline substance, is less sweet and less soluble in water than glucose but is similar in other properties.

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galactose

a monosaccharide derived from lactose. d-galactose is found in lactose, cerebrosides of the brain, raffinose of the sugar beet, and in many gums and seaweeds; l-galactose is found in flaxseed mucilage.

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galactose 1-phosphate uridylyl transferase

involved in the metabolism of galactose to glycogen. Congenital galactosemia of humans and macropods is associated with a deficiency of this enzyme.

galactose tolerance test

a laboratory test done to determine the liver's ability to convert the sugar galactose into glycogen. Not much used in animals.