What does ketose mean?
A ketose is a simple sugar, or monosaccharide, whose chemical structure includes a ketone group. This feature distinguishes ketoses from aldoses, which contain an aldehyde group instead. The best-known ketose is fructose, a sugar present in fruit, honey and many processed foods; other ketoses include ribulose and dihydroxyacetone. Ketoses occur in metabolism and can form parts of more complex substances, including sucrose, which combines glucose and fructose. The word is principally used in chemistry, biochemistry and nutrition, rather than in everyday conversation. Although “ketone” may sound like a general synonym, a ketone is any organic compound containing the relevant functional group, whereas a ketose is specifically a sugar. Understanding the term is useful when examining carbohydrate chemistry, sugar structure, metabolism and the classification of dietary carbohydrates.
nounA monosaccharide, or simple sugar, containing a ketone group rather than an aldehyde group. Fructose is a well-known ketose.
- A monosaccharide containing a ketone group, especially one that forms part of a more complex carbohydrate or occurs as a free sugar.
"Fructose is a ketose that occurs naturally in fruit and honey."
"Fructose is a ketose that occurs naturally in fruit and honey."
"The enzyme catalyses the conversion of the ketose into an aldose."
The plural is used when referring to multiple ketose compounds.
"Several ketoses are important intermediates in cellular metabolism."
One of those ketoses, fructose, is the familiar sugar found in fruit and honey.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ketose come from?
The word combines the chemical element “ketone” with the suffix “-ose,” a standard ending used in the names of sugars and related carbohydrates. It belongs to a wider vocabulary built on “keto-,” including “ketone,” “ketosis” and “ketogenesis,” all referring to a ketone group or its involvement in metabolism.
Related word forms
How ketose is actually used
Ketose is chiefly a technical term in chemistry and biochemistry. It belongs to the same broad class of carbohydrates as aldoses but is distinguished by its ketone group.
Easily confused with ketose
A ketose is an entire sugar molecule containing a ketone group, whereas a ketone is a broader class of organic compounds defined by that functional group.