Xylulose

Xylulose^[1]^[2]
Names
	IUPAC name L-threo-Pent-2-ulose
	Systematic IUPAC name (3R,4S)-1,3,4,5-Tetrahydroxypentan-2-one
	Other names threo-Pentulose; threo-2-PentuloseL-Xylulose
Identifiers
CAS Number	5962-29-8 (D/L) ; 551-84-8 (D) ; 527-50-4 (L) ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image ;
ChEBI	CHEBI:17399 ;
ChemSpider	20892 ;
PubChem CID	22253 ;
UNII	9N4LZL67SA ; YSC9WAF8X1 (D) ; DL1M07LQ7A (L) ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID201315618 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C5H10O5/c6-1-3(8)5(10)4(9)2-7/h3,5-8,10H,1-2H2/t3-,5+/m0/s1 Key: ZAQJHHRNXZUBTE-WVZVXSGGSA-N ; InChI=1S/C5H10O5/c6-1-3(8)5(10)4(9)2-7/h3,5-8,10H,1-2H2/t3-,5+/m0/s1; Key: ZAQJHHRNXZUBTE-WVZVXSGGSA-N;
	SMILES C([C@@H]([C@H](C(=O)CO)O)O)O;
Properties
Chemical formula	C5H10O5
Molar mass	150.130 g·mol−1
Appearance	colorless syrup
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Last updated October 30, 2025

Xylulose is a ketopentose, a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, and including a ketone functional group. It has the chemical formula C ₅ H ₁₀ O ₅. In nature, it occurs in both the L- and D-enantiomers.^[3] 1-Deoxyxylulose is a precursor to terpenes via the DOXP pathway.^[4]

Pathology

L-Xylulose accumulates in the urine in patients with pentosuria, due to a deficiency in L-xylulose reductase. Since L-xylulose is a reducing sugar like D-glucose, pentosuria patients have been wrongly diagnosed in the past to be diabetic.

References

↑ Data is for L-xylulose.
↑ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 9996.
↑ Winkelhausen, Eleonora; Kuzmanova, Slobodanka (1998). "Microbial conversion of d-xylose to xylitol". Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering. 86: 1–14. doi:10.1016/S0922-338X(98)80026-3.
↑ Rohdich, F.; Bacher, A.; Eisenreich, W. (2005). "Isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways as anti-infective drug targets". Biochemical Society Transactions. 33 (4): 785–791. doi:10.1042/BST0330785. PMID 16042599.

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[1] Data is for L-xylulose.

[2] Merck Index, 11th Edition, 9996.

[3] Winkelhausen, Eleonora; Kuzmanova, Slobodanka (1998). "Microbial conversion of d-xylose to xylitol". Journal of Fermentation and Bioengineering. 86: 1–14. doi:10.1016/S0922-338X(98)80026-3.

[4] Rohdich, F.; Bacher, A.; Eisenreich, W. (2005). "Isoprenoid biosynthetic pathways as anti-infective drug targets". Biochemical Society Transactions. 33 (4): 785–791. doi:10.1042/BST0330785. PMID 16042599.

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