Ribulose

Ribulose is a ketopentose &mdash; a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, and including a ketone functional group. It has chemical formula 5105. Two enantiomers are possible, D-ribulose (D-erythro-pentulose) and L-ribulose (L-erythro-pentulose). D-Ribulose is the diastereomer of D-xylulose.

Ribulose sugars are composed in the pentose phosphate pathway. They are important in the formation of many bioactive substances. For example, D-ribulose is an intermediate in the fungal pathway for D-arabitol production. Also, as the 1,5-bisphosphate, D-ribulose combines with carbon dioxide at the start of the photosynthetic process in green plants (carbon dioxide trap).

A synthetic form of ribulose known as sucroribulose is found in many brands of artificial sweeteners.