Hexoses

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Hexoses are a type of monosaccharide with six carbon atoms. They are the most common form of sugar and include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Hexoses are important in the metabolism of living organisms.

Structure and Classification[edit | edit source]

Hexoses can be classified based on their functional group into aldohexoses and ketohexoses. Aldohexoses have an aldehyde group at the end of the molecule, while ketohexoses have a ketone group in the middle of the molecule.

Aldohexoses[edit | edit source]

The most common aldohexose is glucose, which is the primary source of energy in most organisms. Other examples include mannose, galactose, and gulose.

Ketohexoses[edit | edit source]

The most common ketohexose is fructose, which is found in many fruits and honey. Other examples include sorbose and tagatose.

Biological Importance[edit | edit source]

Hexoses play a crucial role in the metabolism of both plants and animals. They are the primary source of energy and are also involved in the synthesis of many important biomolecules.

In Plants[edit | edit source]

In plants, hexoses are produced during photosynthesis and are used as a source of energy and as building blocks for other carbohydrates.

In Animals[edit | edit source]

In animals, hexoses are obtained from the diet and are used to produce energy through glycolysis. They are also used in the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Hexoses Resources
Wikipedia
Medicine-stub.png
This article is a stub related to medicine. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD