Galactogen

Galactogen

General structure of the polysaccharide galactogen
Names
IUPAC name
beta-D-galacto-hexopyranosyl-(1->3)-[beta-D-galacto-hexopyranosyl-(1->6)]-beta-D-galacto-hexopyranose
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
KEGG
  • monomer: InChI=1S/C18H32O16/c19-1-4-7(21)10(24)12(26)17(32-4)30-3-6-9(23)15(14(28)16(29)31-6)34-18-13(27)11(25)8(22)5(2-20)33-18/h4-29H,1-3H2/t4-,5-,6-,7+,8+,9+,10+,11+,12-,13-,14-,15+,16-,17-,18+/m1/s1
    Key: KJZMZIMBDAXZCX-FKZYWASWSA-N
  • monomer: C([C@@H]1[C@@H]([C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H](O1)OC[C@@H]2[C@@H]([C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H](O2)O)O)O[C@H]3[C@@H]([C@H]([C@H]([C@H](O3)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)O
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Galactogen is a polysaccharide of galactose that functions as energy storage in pulmonate snails and some Caenogastropoda.[1] This polysaccharide is exclusive of the reproduction and is only found in the albumen gland from the female snail reproductive system and in the perivitelline fluid of eggs.

Galactogen serves as an energy reserve for developing embryos and hatchlings, which is later replaced by glycogen in juveniles and adults.[2] The advantage of accumulating galactogen instead of glycogen in eggs remains unclear,[3] although some hypotheses have been proposed (see below).

  1. ^ Goudsmit EM (1972). "Carbohydrates and carbohydrate metabolism in Mollusca.". In Florkin M, Scheer BT (eds.). Chemical Zoology. Vol. VII Mollusca. New York: Academic Press. pp. 219–244.
  2. ^ May F (1932). "Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Glykogen und Galaktogengehaltes bei Helix pomatia". Z. Biol. 92: 319–324.
  3. ^ Urich K (1994). Comparative Animal Biochemistry. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. pp. 1–8. doi:10.1007/978-3-662-06303-3_1. ISBN 978-3-642-08181-1.