Melezitose

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Melezitose

Melezitose (pronunciation: meh-leh-zee-tohss) is a type of trisaccharide sugar that is less sweet than sucrose. It is commonly found in certain types of larch trees and is also produced by many insects, including honeybees and aphids.

Etymology

The term "melezitose" is derived from the Greek word "meli" meaning honey and "zitose" from the Greek "zitos" meaning fermented. This is in reference to the sugar's common occurrence in honeydew, a sweet, sticky substance secreted by aphids and other sap-sucking insects.

Chemical Structure

Melezitose is a trisaccharide composed of two glucose molecules and one fructose molecule. It is a non-reducing sugar, meaning it does not have a free aldehyde or ketone group, and therefore does not react with Benedict's solution or Fehling's solution.

Biological Role

In nature, melezitose serves as a food source for various insects. For example, aphids feed on the sap of plants and excrete a substance known as honeydew, which is rich in melezitose. This honeydew is then collected by bees and used to produce honey.

Related Terms

  • Trisaccharide: A type of sugar composed of three sugar molecules.
  • Sucrose: A common type of sugar found in many plants.
  • Glucose: A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms.
  • Fructose: A simple sugar found in many plants and in honey.
  • Honeydew (secretion): A sugar-rich sticky liquid, secreted by aphids and some scale insects as they feed on plant sap.

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