rhannose

Rhamnose is a type of monosaccharide sugar molecule, a simple sugar composed of six carbon atoms. It belongs to the class of sugars known as deoxy sugars, meaning it lacks a hydroxyl (-OH) group at the 6th carbon atom. Rhamnose is one of the two most common sugars in rhamnolipids, a type of biosurfactant produced by certain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Rhamnose is a member of the fructofuranose family, closely related to fucose, another simple sugar found in many organisms. The sugar is found in a variety of natural sources, including plant cell walls, fungal cell walls, and the exoskeletons of insects. In biology, rhamnose plays a structural role, often combining with other sugars and aminosugars to form complex polysaccharide materials.

Rhamnose is also used in the production of a number of biologically active compounds, including certain antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. Additionally, the sugar has been studied for its potential role in the treatment of certain diseases, such as maple syrup urine disease, although these applications are still in the experimental stage. Industrially, rhamnose is used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and in other chemical syntheses.

The name "rhamnose" comes from the term for buckthorn (Rhamnus), a plant containing significant amounts of the sugar. Rhamnose is derived from the pentose-containing polysaccharide, treatment for the sugar is generally based on acid proto hydrolysis, which involves the oxidative degradation of certain sugars.