What is "turanose"

n. (context organic chemistry English) A reducing disaccharide organic compound that can be used as a carbon source by bacteria and fungi.

Turanose is a reducing disaccharide. The D-isomer is naturally occurring. Its systematic name is α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-fructofuranose. It is an analog of sucrose not metabolized by higher plants, but rather acquired through the action of sucrose transporters for intracellular carbohydrate signaling. In addition to its involvement in signal transduction, D--turanose can also be used as a carbon source by many organisms including numerous species of bacteria and fungi.