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Key Documents

G0625

Sigma-Aldrich

D-(+)-Galactose

≥98% (HPLC)

Synonym(s):

Galactose

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About This Item

Empirical Formula (Hill Notation):
C6H12O6
CAS Number:
Molecular Weight:
180.16
Beilstein:
1724619
EC Number:
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12352201
PubChem Substance ID:
NACRES:
NA.21

biological source

bovine (Ruminant- Cow, Ox, Buffalo)

Quality Level

Assay

≥98% (HPLC)

form

powder

technique(s)

HPLC: suitable
cell based assay: suitable

color

white to off-white

useful pH range

5.0-7 (25 °C, 180 g/L)

mp

168-170 °C (lit.)

solubility

water: 180 g/L at 20 °C (68 °F )

application(s)

cell analysis
genomic analysis
life science and biopharma

storage temp.

room temp

SMILES string

OC[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C=O

InChI

1S/C6H12O6/c7-1-3(9)5(11)6(12)4(10)2-8/h1,3-6,8-12H,2H2/t3-,4+,5+,6-/m0/s1

InChI key

GZCGUPFRVQAUEE-KCDKBNATSA-N

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General description

D-Galactose, the C-4 epimer of glucose and a pivotal mammalian monosaccharide, is widely present in blood, milk, gangliosides, and N- and O-linked glycans. It is ubiquitous in both plants and animals and acts as a constituent in diverse polysaccharides, including galactomannans, carrageenans, Agar (L-Galactose), Hemicellulose, and galactans. As an aldohexose, it serves as an energy source and a crucial element in glycolipids and glycoproteins. D-galactose undergoes enzymatic conversion into D-glucose for metabolism or polysaccharide storage, representing a C-4 epimer of glucose.

Furthermore, galactose is a fundamental component of the disaccharide lactose and is released through hydrolysis by β-galactosidase enzymes, playing a vital role in the survival and virulence of bacteria. In Escherichia coli, galactose is utilized through the Leloir pathway, with β-d-galactose serving as a carbon source and β-d-galactose inducing UDP-galactose synthesis for biosynthetic glycosylation. Galactose finds applications in researching metabolic disorders like galactosemia and serves as a substrate for enzymes involved in galactose catabolism, making it a valuable component in galactosyltransferase labeling buffer and a supplement in MRS broth for the growth of thermophilic lactobacilli.

Application

D-(+)-Galactose has been used:
  • as a supplement in SGal media to grow yeast strains to examine the role of different Ssa heat-shock proteins (Hsp70) isoforms in Hsp90 chaperoning functions
  • as a carbon source in Biolog (MT2) microplate assay to test the ability of isolates to utilize carbon substrates
  • to induce expression of membrane protein-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion in yeast

D-Galactose is an energy source and a metabolite that finds application in cell biology, metabolomics and biochemical research.

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.
Metabolism of D-galactose leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and results in oxidative stress and hepatocyte damage.

Features and Benefits

  • Ideal for Metabolomics, Biochemical and Cell Biology research
  • Versatile and adaptable for wide variety of laboratory and research applications

Other Notes

For additional information on our range of Biochemicals, please complete this form.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of our extensive range of Monosaccharides for your research, we encourage you to visit our Carbohydrates Category page.

Storage Class Code

11 - Combustible Solids

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable

Personal Protective Equipment

dust mask type N95 (US), Eyeshields, Gloves

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