Aldose 1-epimerases

Enzymes, EC 5.1.3.3, that interconvert the alpha and beta ring forms of aldoses — converting alpha-D-glucose to beta-D-glucose, and acting similarly on arabinose, xylose, galactose, maltose and lactose. Also known as mutarotases, they have been used extensively in biosensors for sugar analysis, where rapid equilibration gives cleaner readings. The interconversion matters practically because the two anomers differ in sweetness, solubility and crystallisation behaviour — affecting honey granulation, lactose crystallisation in dairy powders and the handling of concentrated syrups. Quiet enzymes behind familiar sugar phenomena.