Dglucoses

D-glucose (plural D-glucoses) is the D-enantiomer of glucose, a simple aldohexose with the molecular formula C6H12O6. In Fischer projections the D designation denotes the configuration of the highest-numbered chiral center to match that of D-glyceraldehyde. D-glucose occurs in open-chain form and in cyclic forms; in solution it participates in mutarotation and exists as two anomers, α-D-glucopyranose and β-D-glucopyranose.

Biological role: D-glucose is a central metabolite in cellular respiration. It is phosphorylated to glucose-6-phosphate by hexokinase or glucokinase, entering glycolysis to yield pyruvate, ATP, and NADH. It can be stored as glycogen in animals or synthesized into starch in plants. Glucose is transported in the bloodstream by GLUT transporters and is taken up by cells via insulin-dependent or -independent uptake mechanisms. It is produced by photosynthesis in plants and is a major dietary carbohydrate for many organisms.

Chemically and commercially, D-glucose is widely used as dextrose. The enantiomer L-glucose is not metabolized by most human pathways. D-glucose serves as a starting point for a broad range of derivatives, including glucosides, sugar phosphates, and polysaccharides.

Industrial production involves hydrolysis of starch to yield glucose syrup and purified dextrose; further processing yields anhydrous dextrose for pharmaceutical and food applications. In addition to food and medicine, glucose-derived intermediates are essential in fermentation and biotechnological processes.