D-Xylulose is a ketopentose, a monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms and a ketone functional group. It is converted from xylitol in the glucoronate-xylulose pathway. D-Xylulokinase catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of D-xylulose to produce xylulose 5-phosphate, which is linked to the pentose-phosphate pathway.
An inducer of ATP catabolism
D-Xylulose can be used through fermentation to produce ethanol.
ChEBI: D-xylulose is the D-enantiomer of xylulose. It has a role as a human metabolite, an Escherichia coli metabolite, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolite and a mouse metabolite. It is an enantiomer of a L-xylulose.
