MOLECULE

a-D-Galactosamine

a-D-Galactosamine, also known as D-chondrosamine or 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactose, is a member of the class of compounds known as hexoses. Hexoses are monosaccharides in which the sugar unit is a six-carbon containing moeity. a-D-galactosamine is soluble in water and a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). a-D-galactosamine can be found in a number of food items such as pepper (Capsicum annuum), orange bell pepper, green bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper, which makes a-D-galactosamine a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. a-D-galactosamine is a hexosamine derived from galactose with the molecular formula C6H13NO5. This amino sugar is a constituent of some glycoprotein hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Other sugar constituents of FSH and LH include glucosamine, galactose and glucose.