Uronic acid: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:59, 9 February 2025

Uronic Acid

Uronic acids are a class of sugar acids with both a carbonyl and a carboxylic acid functional group. They are derived from monosaccharides by oxidation of the terminal hydroxyl group to a carboxylic acid. Uronic acids are important in the metabolism of carbohydrates and are found in many polysaccharides.

Structure and Properties

Uronic acids are characterized by the presence of a carboxylic acid group at the terminal carbon of the sugar molecule. This modification increases the molecule's solubility in water and alters its chemical reactivity. The most common uronic acids are derived from hexoses, such as glucose and galactose.

Biological Role

Uronic acids play a crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrates. They are involved in the detoxification of substances in the liver through the formation of glucuronides, which are more water-soluble and can be excreted in the urine.

Examples

Glucuronic acid is a prominent uronic acid derived from glucose. It is a key component of glycosaminoglycans, such as hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, which are important for the structure and function of connective tissues.
Galacturonic acid is derived from galactose and is a major component of pectin, a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants.

Related Compounds

Uronic acids are related to other sugar acids, such as aldonic acids and aldaric acids, which are formed by oxidation of different carbon atoms in the sugar molecule.

Related Pages

References

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-'''Uronic acids''' are a class of sugar acids with both carbonyl and carboxylic acid functional groups. They are derived from monosaccharides, where the terminal carbon's aldehyde group is oxidized to a carboxylic acid. Uronic acids play a crucial role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and in the structural components of polysaccharides in both plants and animals. They are involved in various biological processes, including detoxification, the formation of glycosaminoglycans, and the metabolism of glycoproteins and glycolipids.
+== Uronic Acid ==
-==Structure and Classification==
+[[File:Beta_D-Glucuronic_acid.svg|thumb|right|200px|Structure of Beta-D-Glucuronic acid]]
-Uronic acids retain the same number of carbon atoms as the monosaccharides from which they are derived. The most common uronic acids include [[glucuronic acid]], derived from glucose, and [[galacturonic acid]], derived from galactose. Other notable examples are [[mannuronic acid]] and [[iduronic acid]], which are components of the polysaccharides alginate and heparan sulfate, respectively.
+[[File:Beta-D-Glucose.svg|thumb|right|200px|Structure of Beta-D-Glucose]]
-==Biosynthesis==
+'''Uronic acids''' are a class of [[sugar acids]] with both a carbonyl and a carboxylic acid functional group. They are derived from [[monosaccharides]] by oxidation of the terminal hydroxyl group to a carboxylic acid. Uronic acids are important in the metabolism of [[carbohydrates]] and are found in many [[polysaccharides]].
-The biosynthesis of uronic acids involves the oxidation of the aldehyde group at the terminal carbon of a monosaccharide to a carboxylic acid. This reaction is catalyzed by specific enzymes known as uronate dehydrogenases. For example, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase catalyzes the conversion of UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, a key intermediate in the synthesis of many glycosaminoglycans and glycoconjugates.
-==Function==
+== Structure and Properties ==
-Uronic acids serve several important functions in living organisms:
-* '''Detoxification''': Glucuronic acid, for instance, conjugates with various hydrophobic molecules, such as bilirubin, drugs, and toxins, making them more water-soluble and easier to excrete.
-* '''Structural Components''': Galacturonic acid is a major component of pectin, a structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls. Mannuronic and iduronic acids are found in alginate and heparan sulfate, respectively, which are important for the structural integrity and function of various tissues.
-* '''Biological Signaling''': Certain uronic acid-containing polysaccharides, such as heparan sulfate, are involved in cell signaling and regulation processes.
-==Metabolism==
+Uronic acids are characterized by the presence of a carboxylic acid group at the terminal carbon of the sugar molecule. This modification increases the molecule's solubility in water and alters its chemical reactivity. The most common uronic acids are derived from [[hexoses]], such as [[glucose]] and [[galactose]].
-The metabolism of uronic acids involves their conversion back into monosaccharides or into other metabolites that can enter various biochemical pathways. For example, glucuronic acid can be converted back into glucose or into xylulose, which can then enter the pentose phosphate pathway.
-==Clinical Significance==
+== Biological Role ==
-Abnormalities in the metabolism of uronic acids can lead to various diseases. For instance, deficiencies in enzymes responsible for the degradation of glycosaminoglycans can lead to mucopolysaccharidoses, a group of lysosomal storage diseases characterized by the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in tissues.
-==See Also==
+Uronic acids play a crucial role in the [[metabolism]] of carbohydrates. They are involved in the detoxification of substances in the [[liver]] through the formation of [[glucuronides]], which are more water-soluble and can be excreted in the [[urine]].
-* [[Monosaccharide]]
+== Examples ==
+* '''[[Glucuronic acid]]''' is a prominent uronic acid derived from glucose. It is a key component of [[glycosaminoglycans]], such as [[hyaluronic acid]] and [[chondroitin sulfate]], which are important for the structure and function of [[connective tissues]].
+* '''[[Galacturonic acid]]''' is derived from galactose and is a major component of [[pectin]], a polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants.
+== Related Compounds ==
+Uronic acids are related to other sugar acids, such as [[aldonic acids]] and [[aldaric acids]], which are formed by oxidation of different carbon atoms in the sugar molecule.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Carbohydrate metabolism]]
+* [[Glucuronidation]]
 * [[Polysaccharide]]
-* [[Glycosaminoglycan]]
-* [[Detoxification]]
-[[Category:Biochemistry]]
+== References ==
+{{Reflist}}
 [[Category:Carbohydrates]]
+[[Category:Sugar acids]]
-{{Biochemistry-stub}}