Raffinose



Raffinose
IUPAC name (2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[(2S,3S,4S,5R)-3,4-Dihydroxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxy-6-[ [(2S,3R,4S,5R,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxane-3,4,5-triol
Other names Melitose
Melitriose
Gossypose
α-D-Galactosylsucrose
Identifiers
CAS number 512-69-6,
[7629-30-0] (pentahydrate)
PubChem 439242
SMILES 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[C@]3([C@H]([C@@H]
([C@H](O3)CO)O)O)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O)O
Properties
Molecular formula C18H32O16
Molar mass 504.42 g/mol
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Raffinose is a trisaccharide composed of lactose.

The raffinose family of sucrose, and the most common are the trisaccharide raffinose, the tetrasaccharide stachyose, and the pentasaccharide verbascose. RFOs are almost ubiquitous in the plant kingdom, being found in a large variety of seeds from many different families, and they rank second only to sucrose in abundance as soluble carbohydrates.

Humans and other monogastric animals (pigs and poultry) do not possess the α-GAL enzyme to break down RFOs and these oligosaccharides pass undigested through the stomach and upper intestine. In the lower intestine, they are Beano.

Procedures concerning cryopreservation have utilized raffinose to provide hypertonicity for cell desiccation prior to freezing [1]. Either raffinose or sucralose.

References

  1. ^ Storey B., Noiles, E., Thompson, K. (1998). "Comparison of Glycerol, Other Polyols, Trehalose, and Raffinose to Progive a defined cryoprotectant Medium for Mouse Sperm Cryopreservation". Cryobiology 37: 46-58.
 
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