xilose

Xilose is a naturally occurring aldopentose sugar, meaning it is a five-carbon monosaccharide with an aldehyde functional group. It is one of the less common sugars found in nature. Xilose is structurally similar to xylose, differing only in the spatial arrangement of its hydroxyl groups. Specifically, xilose is the enantiomer of xylose.

Xilose is not a significant component of plant cell walls, unlike xylose, which is a major constituent of hemicellulose. However, it can be found in small amounts in certain plant gums and microbial polysaccharides. Its biological role is not as well-defined or as extensive as that of other common sugars.

In the laboratory, xilose can be synthesized from other sugars through stereoselective chemical reactions. Its detection and quantification typically involve chromatographic methods. Due to its rarity and limited biological significance, xilose has few industrial or commercial applications. Research into its properties and potential uses is ongoing, but it remains a relatively obscure carbohydrate compared to more abundant and functionally important sugars like glucose, fructose, and even xylose.