Beta-D-glucose (β-D-glucose)

Molecular Classification

Monosaccharide, Hexose, Organic oxygen compound, Carbohydrate, Reducing sugar

Other Names

D-glucose, β-D-glucopyranose, dextrose (when referring more generally to D-glucose), b-D-glucopyranose, Dextrose monohydrate (trade name/form), Glc (universal monosaccharide abbreviation)

Disease Roles

Diabetes mellitus (role in hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia)Glycogen storage diseasesHypoglycemia (therapeutic use in acute management)

Beta-D-glucose Overview

Beta-D-glucose is the predominant naturally occurring isomer of the monosaccharide D-glucose, one of the most important carbohydrates in biology. It is a six-carbon (hexose) aldose sugar, with the formula C₆H₁₂O₆, and exists mainly as a pyranose ring in aqueous solution, with the hydroxyl group at the anomeric carbon pointing upwards in the β-configuration. Beta-D-glucose plays a fundamental role as the main source of energy in cells, providing the substrate for glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and the pentose phosphate pathway. It is also the basic building block for important polysaccharides such as cellulose in plants and glycogen in animals. Although β-D-glucose interacts with a variety of enzymes and transporters, it is not itself a therapeutic target but instead is the molecule moved or modified by such targets. It is widely used clinically to treat hypoglycemia and in nutrient solutions, and abnormally high or low levels are central to the pathophysiology of diabetes and other metabolic diseases. In biotechnology and industry, it serves as a sweetener, preservative, and basic reagent.

Mechanism of Action

Not directly a classic drug/receptor target, but: - Substrate for glycolytic enzymes (e.g., hexokinase, glucokinase) - Substrate for glucose transporters (GLUT family) - Metabolic intermediate in multiple pathways (glycolysis, PPP, glycogenesis, glycogenolysis) - Modulates pancreatic insulin secretion indirectly

Biological Functions

Metabolic energy source (primary energy substrate in living cells)

Precursor for biosynthetic pathways (amino acids, fats, nucleic acids)

Building block for polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose)

Substrate and product in metabolic pathways (glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, pentose phosphate pathway)

Component in glycosylation of proteins and lipids

Disease Associations

Diabetes mellitus (role in hyperglycemia/hypoglycemia)

Glycogen storage diseases

Hypoglycemia (therapeutic use in acute management)

Other metabolic disorders involving carbohydrate metabolism

Safety Considerations

Hyperglycemia (risk in excess, e.g., poorly controlled diabetes)
Hypoglycemia (risk with rapid administration or excess insulin in diabetic patients)
Osmotic diuresis at high plasma levels

Interacting Drugs

Insulin (not a classic drug-target interaction, but insulin controls glucose uptake/usage)

Oral hypoglycemics (indirectly by influencing β-D-glucose metabolism)

Glucose tablets/IV solutions (therapeutic for hypoglycemia)

SGLT2 inhibitors (block renal reabsorption of glucose)

Acarbose, miglitol (alpha-glucosidase inhibitors delay glucose absorption)

Diazoxide, glucagon (raise blood glucose in hypoglycemic states)

Associated Biomarkers

Biomarker
Blood glucose concentration (diagnosis/monitoring of diabetes)
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (long-term glucose control assessment)
Glucose tolerance test
Urinary glucose (glycosuria in diabetes)