Monosaccharide
Monosaccharide
Monosaccharides (/ˌmɒnoʊˈsækəraɪd/; from Greek monos: single, sacchar: sugar) are the simplest form of carbohydrates. They are the most basic units of biologically important carbohydrates. They are composed of one sugar and are usually colorless, water-soluble, and crystalline solids. Some monosaccharides have a sweet taste.
Etymology
The word "monosaccharide" is derived from mono, meaning "one", and saccharide, meaning "sugar". The term saccharide comes from the Greek word "sakcharon", meaning sugar.
Types of Monosaccharides
Monosaccharides can be classified based on the number of carbon atoms they contain: triose (3), tetrose (4), pentose (5), hexose (6), heptose (7), and so on. The aldose and ketose are two major types of monosaccharides based on the functional group present.
Aldose
An aldose is a monosaccharide with an aldehyde group. Examples include glucose, galactose, and mannose.
Ketose
A ketose is a monosaccharide containing a ketone group. Examples include fructose and ribulose.
Biological Importance
Monosaccharides are important fuel molecules as well as building blocks for nucleotides. The primary role of monosaccharides in metabolism is to provide energy in the form of ATP through glycolysis.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Monosaccharide
- Wikipedia's article - Monosaccharide
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