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Galactose (/ ɡ ə ˈ l æ k t oʊ s /, galacto-+ -ose, "milk sugar"), sometimes abbreviated Gal, is a monosaccharide sugar that is about as sweet as glucose, and about 65% as sweet as sucrose. [2] It is an aldohexose and a C-4 epimer of glucose. [3] A galactose molecule linked with a glucose molecule forms a lactose molecule.
Galactose-α-1,3-galactose, commonly known as alpha gal and the Galili antigen, is a carbohydrate found in most mammalian cell membranes. It is not found in catarrhines , [ 1 ] including humans, who have lost the GGTA1 gene.
The glycogen in the liver can function as a backup source of glucose between meals. [2] Liver glycogen mainly serves the central nervous system. Adrenaline stimulates the breakdown of glycogen in the skeletal muscle during exercise. [12] In the muscles, glycogen ensures a rapidly accessible energy source for movement. [2]
Lactose is a disaccharide sugar composed of galactose and glucose that is found in milk. Lactose can not be absorbed by the intestine and needs to be split in the small intestine into galactose and glucose by the enzyme called lactase; unabsorbed lactose can cause abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and nausea. [citation needed]
In humans it is the terminal carbohydrate forming the antigen of blood group A. [1]. It is typically the first monosaccharide that connects serine or threonine in particular forms of protein O-glycosylation.
A galactosemia test is a blood test (from the heel of the infant) or urine test that checks for three enzymes that are needed to change galactose sugar that is found in milk and milk products into glucose, a sugar that the human body uses for energy. A person with galactosemia does not have one of these enzymes.
Structure of human galectin-9 in complex with N-acetyllactosamine dimer, clearly showing the two carbohydrate binding sites. Galectins are a class of proteins that bind specifically to β-galactoside sugars, such as N-acetyllactosamine (Galβ1-3GlcNAc or Galβ1-4GlcNAc), which can be bound to proteins by either N-linked or O-linked glycosylation.
β-Galactosidase is an exoglycosidase which hydrolyzes the β-glycosidic bond formed between a galactose and its organic moiety. It may also cleave fucosides and arabinosides but at a much lower rate. It is an essential enzyme in the human body. Deficiencies in the protein can result in galactosialidosis or Morquio B syndrome.