Dictionary > Raffinose

Raffinose

Definition
noun
A trisaccharide formed from the combination of three monomers: galactose, glucose, and fructose, and has a chemical formula of C18H32O16
Supplement
Carbohydrates are one of the major classes of biomolecules. The simplest form of carbohydrates is a monosaccharide. The monosaccharides may combine by glycosidic bonds and form larger carbohydrates, such as oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates made up of a small number of monosaccharide units and are relatively smaller than polysaccharides. An example of an oligosaccharide is raffinose.
Raffinose is a trisaccharide, meaning it is made up of three monomers of monosaccharides, namely galactose, glucose, and fructose. It has a chemical formula of C18H32O16. The galactose is connected to glucose by 1α→6 glycosidic linkage. When hydrolyzed with enzyme α-galactosidase, it yields D-galactose and sucrose. Raffinose occurs in legumes, whole grains, cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cotton seed, molasses of beet root, asparagus, etc.
Raffinose is just one of the members of the RFOs (raffinose family of oligosaccharides). Other members include stachyose (a tetrasaccharide), verbascose (a pentasaccharide), etc. Members of the RFOs are α-1, 6-galactosyl extensions of sucrose. They are formed from sucrose with the ensuing addition of galactose moieties donated from galactinol. RFOs are abundant in plants and serve as desiccation protectant in seeds, as transport sugar in phloem sap and as storage sugars.1
IUPAC name:

  • (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-(2S,3S,4S,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yloxy-6-(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yloxymethyloxane-3,4,5-triol

Chemical formula:

  • C18H32O16
  • Also called:

    • gossypose
    • melitose
    • melitriose
    • rafinosa
    • 6G-α-D-galactosylsucrose

    See also:

  • oligosaccharide
  • carbohydrate
  • galactose
  • glucose
  • fructose
  • Reference(s):

    1 Sengupta,S., Mukherjee, S., Basak, P., and Majumder, A.L. (2015). Significance of galactinol and raffinose family oligosaccharide synthesis in plants. Front Plant Sci. 6: 656. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00656


    You will also like...

    3D rendering of an antibody
    Passive and Active Types of Immunity

    Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell capable of producing a specific immune response to unique antigens. In thi..

    DNA - schematic
    Genetic Mutations

    This tutorial looks at the mutation at the gene level and the harm it may bring. Learn about single nucleotide polymorph..

    Schematic diagram of bacterial lactose operon
    Gene Action – Operon Hypothesis

    Learn how the way genes control and determine every aspect of the body. This lesson uses lac operon as an example. ..

    ..

    Thermographic image of face and neck
    Regulation of Organic Metabolism, Growth and Energy Balance

    The human body is capable of regulating growth and energy balance through various feedback mechanisms. Get to know the e..

    squirrel
    Animal Water Regulation

    Animals adapt to their environment in aspects of anatomy, physiology, and behavior. This tutorial will help you understa..

    green plant cells
    Plant Cells vs. Animal Cells

    Plant cells have plastids essential in photosynthesis. They also have an additional layer called cell wall on their cell..

    Related Articles...

    No related articles found

    See all Related Topics