alduronicacid

Alduronic acids are a class of sugar-derived acids formed when an aldose sugar is oxidized at the aldehyde end to produce a carboxyl group, resulting in aldo-uronic acids. They are a subset of uronic acids and are commonly encountered as components of complex polysaccharides in both animals and plants. In solution, these molecules can exist as ring forms (pyranoses or furanoses) and as their corresponding open-chain forms with a terminal carboxyl group.

Common examples include glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, and iduronic acid. Glucuronic and galacturonic acids derive from glucose and galactose, respectively, and occur widely in glycosaminoglycans and plant pectins. Iduronic acid is a well-known component of certain glycosaminoglycans such as dermatan sulfate and some proteoglycans. Both D- and L- enantiomers are biologically relevant in different contexts.

Biological roles and occurrence are diverse. In animals, glucuronic acid plays a central role in detoxification through glucuronidation, a process that attaches glucuronic acid to drugs and endogenous compounds to increase their solubility for excretion. In connective tissues, uronic acids form part of glycosaminoglycans, contributing to the structural and hydration properties of extracellular matrices. In plants, galacturonic acid is a major component of pectins, influencing cell wall porosity and texture.

Chemically, the carboxyl group of alduronic acids imparts acidity (typical pKa around 3–4) and enables various ester, amide, and salt derivatives widely used in biology and industry.