Rhamnose

Rhamnose is a naturally occurring deoxy sugar. It can be classified as either a methyl-pentose or a 6-deoxy-hexose. Rhamnose occurs in nature in its L-form as L-rhamnose (6-deoxy-L-mannose). This is unusual, since most of the naturally occurring sugars are in D-form. Exceptions are the mucopolysaccharides and rhamnose itself.

Structure and properties[edit | edit source]

Rhamnose can exist in both a pyranose (ring) form and a furanose (ring) form. The pyranose form is more stable. Rhamnose is a component of many natural compounds including flavonoids, terpenoids, and glycosides. It is also used in the commercial production of certain chemicals.

Biological role[edit | edit source]

Rhamnose is an important part of the cell wall of some bacteria. It is also a component of the antigenic outer lipopolysaccharides present in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. In plants, rhamnose is a component of pectin and is important for plant growth and development.

Industrial use[edit | edit source]

Rhamnose is used in the food industry as a flavoring agent and in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of drugs. It is also used in the cosmetic industry for the production of skin care products.

See also[edit | edit source]

Rhamnose Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.