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monosaccharide

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Also known as monosaccharides

Monosaccharides (from Greek monos: single, sacchar: sugar), also called simple sugars, are a class of organic compounds usually with the formula (CH2O)x. By definition they have two or more carbon-carbon bonds. More specifically, they are classified as polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones with the respective formulas or respectively. Monosaccharides can be classified by the number x of carbon atoms they contain: triose (3), tetrose (4), pentose (5), hexose (6), heptose (7), and so on.

AI overview

Monosaccharides, also called simple sugars, are basic organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that serve as the building blocks of more complex carbohydrates in living organisms. They vary in size depending on how many carbon atoms they contain—ranging from three-carbon trioses to larger structures—and are classified chemically as either polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones.

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Research

442,787 papers

Effect of monosaccharide composition and proportion on the bioactivity of polysaccharides: A review.ReviewInternational journal of biological macromolecules · 2024Wang Z, Zheng Y, Lai Z et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127955
Monosaccharide composition analysis by 2D quantitative gsHSQC(i).Carbohydrate research · 2024Ma X, Li C, Zhang J et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2024.109168
The monosaccharide transporter(-like) gene family in Arabidopsis.ReviewFEBS letters · 2007Büttner MDOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.03.016
Monosaccharide biosynthesis pathways database.Glycobiology · 2021Srivastava J, Sunthar P, Balaji PVDOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwab030
The Pre- and Post-Column Derivatization on Monosaccharide Composition Analysis, a Review.ReviewChemistry & biodiversity · 2024Chen X, Wang Y, Ye Y et al.DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400749
Structure-based standardization of prebiotic soluble dietary fibers based on monosaccharide composition, degree of polymerization, and linkage composition.ReviewCarbohydrate polymers · 2025Swackhamer C, Jang S, Park BR et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2025.123949
Bioactive Mushroom Polysaccharides: A Review on Monosaccharide Composition, Biosynthesis and Regulation.ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2017Wang Q, Wang F, Xu Z et al.DOI: 10.3390/molecules22060955
Monosaccharide composition of mucins.ReviewMethods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) · 2000Michalski JC, Capon CDOI: 10.1385/1-59259-048-9:159

Wikidata facts

Image: Monosaccharide stereoisomers.png

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Commons category: Monosaccharides

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Article

11 sections

Contents

Structure and nomenclature
Linear-chain monosaccharides
Open-chain stereoisomers
Configuration of monosaccharides
{{vanchor|Cyclisation}} of monosaccharides (hemiacetal formation)
Haworth projection
Derivatives
See also
References
Literature
External links

Monosaccharides (from Greek monos: single, sacchar: sugar), also called simple sugars, are a class of organic compounds usually with the formula (CH2O)x. By definition they have two or more carbon-carbon bonds. More specifically, they are classified as polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones with the respective formulas or respectively. Monosaccharides can be classified by the number x of carbon atoms they contain: triose (3), tetrose (4), pentose (5), hexose (6), heptose (7), and so on.

They are colorless, water-soluble, and crystalline organic solids. Contrary to their name (sugars), only some monosaccharides have a sweet taste.

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Carbohydrate chemistry Monosaccharides