Galactose metabolism GO:0006012 IEV:0001418 KEGG:map00052 The chemical reactions and pathways involving galactose, the aldohexose galacto-hexose. D-galactose is widely distributed in combined form in plants, animals and microorganisms as a constituent of oligo- and polysaccharides; it also occurs in galactolipids and as its glucoside in lactose and melibiose. event galactose metabolic process Carbohydrate Metabolism Alcohol metabolism