A phosphorylated derivative of galactose that is key in galactose metabolism; accumulates in certain types of galactosemia.
- galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase an enzyme catalyzing the reaction of UTP and α-d-galactose 1-phosphate to form UDP galactose and pyrophosphate, the second and most important step in the metabolism of d-galactose; a deficiency of this enzyme results in an accumulation of galactose, g., and galactitol.
Medical dictionary. 2011.