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BIO NMDCAT Carbohydrates
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The digestion of lactose in infants is critical. The products of this hydrolysis, glucose and galactose, are both absorbed into the enterocyte. Galactose is then rapidly converted to glucose in the liver. This one-step interconversion is an example of

A. Oxidation
B. Epimerization at C-4
✓
C. Reduction
D. Decarboxylation

📝 Explanation

Galactose and glucose are C-4 epimers. The conversion of galactose to glucose in the liver involves a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (the Leloir pathway), but the net result is a change in the configuration of the hydroxyl group at the C-4 position. The UDP-hexose 4-epimerase enzyme directly catalyzes this epimerization.

📖 Additional Information

  • Oxidation
  • Epimerization at C-4
  • Reduction
  • Decarboxylation

Galactose and glucose are C-4 epimers. The conversion of galactose to glucose in the liver involves a series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions (the Leloir pathway), but the net result is a change in the configuration of the hydroxyl group at the C-4 position. The UDP-hexose 4-epimerase enzyme directly catalyzes this epimerization.

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