The degradation of xylose begins with NADP dependent trifunctional aldehyde reductase/xylose reductase/glucose 1-dehydrogenase resulting in the release of a NADPH, hydrogen ion and Xylitol. Xylitol reacts with a NAD D-xylulose reductase resulting in the release of NADH, a hydrogen ion and D-xylulose. Xylulose reacts with ATP through a xylulose kinase resulting in a release of ADP, hydrogen ion and xylulose 5-phosphate. The latter compound, xylulose 5-phosphate through a Ribulose-phosphate 3-epimerase resulting in the release of D-ribulose 5-phosphate. D-ribulose 5-phosphate and xylulose 5-phosphate react with a transketolase resulting in the release of D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and D-sedoheptulose 7-phosphate. These two compounds react through a transaldolase resulting in the release of a D-erythrose 4-phosphate and Beta-D-fructofuranose 6-phosphate. D-erythrose 4-phosphate reacts with a xylulose 5-phosphate through a transketolase resulting in the release of Beta-D-fructofuranose 6-phosphate and D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate

Xylitol Degradation References