Triose
Sugar containing three carbon atoms
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 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 the Body
- 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
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Types of carbohydrates
Dioses |
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Trioses |
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Tetroses |
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Pentoses |
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Hexoses | |
Heptoses |
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Above 7 |
Disaccharides | |
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Trisaccharides | |
Tetrasaccharides | |
Other oligosaccharides |
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Polysaccharides |
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