Lyxose
- (2S, 3S, 4R)- Tetrahydroxypentanal
- (2R, 3R, 4S)- Tetrahydroxypentanal
White powder
Fixed
108-112 ° C
Readily soluble in water: 50 g · l-1
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Lyxose is a monosaccharide with five carbon atoms. This sugar is in a group of aldopentoses with the molecular formula C5H10O5.
Occurrence
Both the D- lyxose and L- lyxose occur in nature, not in a free form, it is also extremely rare - as for example in Mycobacterium phlei / Mycobacterium smegmatis - involved in the structure of cell membranes.
Properties
In aqueous solution it is partly to an intramolecular ring closure, resulting in a balance between the Aldoform and the two ring forms ( furanose form and pyranose form) adjusts the lyxose then present almost exclusively in the pyranose form: