-D-Glucose

Glucose is a six carbon sugar which can provide a rapid source of ATP energy via glycolysis. Glucose is stored in polymer form by plants (starch) and animals (glycogen). Plants also have cellulose, which is not used to store glucose, but rather provides structural integrity to the cells.

Glucose has an anomeric carbon, which can exist in the and configurations. Glucose can exist in both the D and L forms (though the D-form predominates biologically). It can exist as a straight chain or in ring structures composed of 5 (furanose) or 6 (pyranose) member rings.

Metabolic pathways involving glucose

Glycolysis

Gluconeogenesis

Glycogen Synthesis

Glycogen Breakdown

Cori Cycle

Glycoside Formation

Other Saccharide Synthesis

See also: Diastereomers (from Chapter 9), Saccharides (from Chapter 9)