hexoses
Glucose and fructose
Hexoses are simple sugars containing six carbon atoms—the most nutritionally important class of monosaccharides.
Glucose, fructose, and galactose are all hexoses.
The term appears mainly in biochemistry and nutrition science: Hexoses are the primary energy source for cellular metabolism.
Primary cellular fuel
- fructoseMonosaccharide in produce
- galactoseMonosaccharide from lactose breakdown
- monosaccharideSimplest carbohydrate form
- glycolysisGlucose metabolism producing ATP
metabolism · ATP · respiration · carbohydrate · glycogen · polysaccharide · starch · cellulose
Monosaccharide in produce
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- galactoseMonosaccharide from lactose breakdown
- sweetnessSugary taste quality
- tasteFlavor perception ability
sweetener · sugar · honey · syrup · confectionery · palatability
Primary cellular fuel
Ketone-bearing simple sugar
- isomerSame formula, different shape
- stereoisomerMolecule differing only spatially
- chiralityMirror-image non-superimposability
- enantiomerMirror-image molecular variant
alpha · beta · configuration
glucose
Primary cellular fuel
- fructoseMonosaccharide in produce
- galactoseMonosaccharide from lactose breakdown
- monosaccharideSimplest carbohydrate form
glycolysis · metabolism · ATP · respiration · carbohydrate · glycogen · polysaccharide · starch · cellulose · catabolism
fructose
Monosaccharide in produce
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- galactoseMonosaccharide from lactose breakdown
- sweetnessSugary taste quality
taste · sweetener · sugar · honey · syrup · confectionery · palatability
glucose
Primary cellular fuel
ketose
Ketone-bearing simple sugar
- isomerSame formula, different shape
- stereoisomerMolecule differing only spatially
- chiralityMirror-image non-superimposability
enantiomer · alpha · beta · configuration
hexosespolysaccharides
Multi-unit sugar polymers
disaccharides · starch · cellulose · glycogen · complex carbohydrates