All structures are shown in alpha-D-pyranose conformation
α-D-Allose
α-D-Altrose
Percentage in conformation
α-pyranose
β-pyranose
α-furanose
β-furanose
Allose
18
70
5
7
Altrose
27
40
20
13
Glucose
36
64
0
0
Mannose
67
33
0
0
α-D-Glucose
α-D-Mannose
Glucose is the most common sugar type in nature. Cellulose (β-1,4- glucopyranose) and starch (α-1,4-glucopyranose) are the most common polysaccharides in nature. Glucose is also found in xanthan gum and konjac mannan. Mannose is found as the main backbone in the galactomannans including guar, locust bean gum, cassia tora, fenugreek and tara. It is found in konjac mannan as a co-polymer with glucose and in xanthan as part of the side chain.
α-D-Gulose
α-D-Idose
Percentage in conformation
α-pyranose
β-pyranose
α-furanose
β-furanose
Gulose
22
78
0
0
Idose
31
37
16
16
Galactose
27
73
0
0
Talose
40
29
20
11
α-D-Galactose
α-D-Talose
Gulose is a raw sugar in nature but is found in alginate as the uronic acid derivative. Galactose is found as the sidechain in the galactomannans including guar, locust bean gum, cassia tora, fenugreek and tara. It is also the basis of the main sugars in the carrageenans and agars as sulphated and methylated sugars. It is present in the uronic acid form as the main backbone sugar in pectin and is found in gum arabic and larch gum.
