An aldopentose, isomeric with ribose, obtained by fermentation or hydrolysis of naturally occurring carbohydrate substances, e.g., in wood fiber. An important dietary component for herbivores. The d-isomer is also known as wood or beechwood sugar. SYN: uridine diphosphoxylose.
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xy·lose 'zī-.lōs, -.lōz n a crystalline aldose sugar C5H10O5 that is not fermentable with ordinary yeasts and occurs esp. as a constituent of xylans from which it is obtained by hydrolysis
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n.
a pentose sugar (i.e. one with five carbon atoms) that is involved in carbohydrate interconversions within cells. It is used as a diagnostic aid for intestinal function.
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xy·lose (ziґlōs) an aldopentose epimeric with ribose at the 3 carbon and occurring in pyranose form; it is found in plants in the form of xylans. [USP] an official preparation of xylose, used as a diagnostic aid in testing for intestinal function and malabsorption syndromes, such as the D-xylose absorption test.Medical dictionary. 2011.