Triose
Topic: Chemistry
From HandWiki - Reading time: 3 min
A triose is a monosaccharide, or simple sugar, containing three carbon atoms. There are only three possible trioses: the two enantiomers of glyceraldehyde, which are aldoses; and dihydroxyacetone, a ketose which is symmetrical and therefore has no enantiomers.[1]
Trioses are important in photosynthesis and cellular respiration. During glycolysis, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is broken down into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Lactic acid and pyruvic acid are later derived from these molecules.[2]
Importance of triose in animal physiology
- Trioses serve as metabolic intermediates in various different metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and the pentose phosphate pathway.
- Trioses contribute to the synthesis of essential biomolecules including lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, and carbohydrates.
- Trioses are small carbon molecules and can therefore be easily modified into various molecules.
References
- ↑ "Trioses - Three Carbon Sugars". Oxford University Press. http://www.oup.com/us/static/companion.websites/9780195305753/molecules/triose.html.
- ↑ "Glycolysis in Detail". Ohio State University at Mansfield. http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol4025.htm.
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Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Chemistry:Triose57 views | Status: cached on January 21 2026 23:43:58↧ Download this article as ZWI file
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