galactoside

1 9.9

A chemical with the sugar galactose attached to another chemical

noun
/ɡəˈlæktəˌsaɪd/

Specialized

: galactósido

A galactoside is formed when galactose bonds with another molecule.

Examples

A galactoside can be found in some plant-derived foods and dairy products.
Researchers studied the reaction of a specific galactoside with various enzymes in the laboratory.
The enzyme lactase helps break down galactoside compounds in the digestive system.
Many galactosides are important in cell signaling.
The enzyme lactase helps break down galactoside compounds in the digestive system.
Researchers studied the reaction of a specific galactoside with various enzymes in the laboratory.
Many galactosides are important in cell signaling.

Surface Forms

galactoside singular

galactosides plural

Morphology

galactoside = galactose (semi-transparent) = galactose + ide

The connection to 'galactose' is clear, but the exact chemical sense 'compound containing galactose linked by a glycosidic bond' is specialized rather than fully predictable from ordinary word-formation rules.

Etymology

Galactoside comes from galacto- meaning 'milk', as seen in galactose, the sugar found in milk, and the ending -side, a chemical ending for a part joined to another molecule. So a galactoside is a molecule where the milk sugar is joined to something else.