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Names | |
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IUPAC name
6-O-α-D-Galactopyranosyl-β-D-glucopyranose
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Systematic IUPAC name
(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxane-2,3,4,5-tetrol | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
MeSH | Melibiose |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
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Properties | |
C12H22O11 | |
Molar mass | 342.297 g·mol−1 |
Melting point | 84–85 °C (183–185 °F; 357–358 K) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Melibiose is a reducing disaccharide formed by an α-1,6 linkage between galactose and glucose (D-Gal-(α1→6)-D-Glc).[1][2] It differs from lactose in the chirality of the carbon where the galactose ring is closed and that the galactose is linked to a different point on the glucose moiety. It can be formed by invertase-mediated hydrolysis of raffinose, which produces melibiose and fructose. Melibiose can be broken down into its component saccharides, glucose and galactose, by the enzyme alpha-galactosidase, such as MEL1 from Saccharomyces pastorianus (lager yeast).
Melibiose cannot be used by Saccharomyces cerevisiae[3] (ale yeast), so this is one test to differentiate between the two yeast species.