View source for Triose

{{Short description|Sugar containing three carbon atoms}}
[[Image:D-glyceraldehyde-2D-skeletal.svg|150px|thumb|[[Glyceraldehyde|D-Glyceraldehyde]] is an [[aldose|aldotriose]] because the [[carbonyl]] group is at the end of the chain]]
[[Image:1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-one 200.svg|150px|thumb|[[Dihydroxyacetone]] is a [[ketose|ketotriose]] because the carbonyl group is the center of the chain.]]
A '''triose''' is a [[monosaccharide]], or simple sugar, containing three [[carbon]] [[atom]]s. There are only three possible trioses: the two [[Enantiomer|enantiomers]] of [[glyceraldehyde]], which are [[aldose]]s; and [[dihydroxyacetone]], a [[ketose]] which is symmetrical and therefore has no enantiomers.<ref>{{cite web| title=Trioses - Three Carbon Sugars| publisher=Oxford University Press| access-date=2011-07-10| url=http://www.oup.com/us/static/companion.websites/9780195305753/molecules/triose.html}}</ref>
Trioses are important in [[cellular respiration]]. During [[glycolysis]], [[Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate|fructose-1,6-bisphosphate]] is broken down into [[Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate|glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate]] and [[dihydroxyacetone phosphate]]. [[Lactic acid]] and [[pyruvic acid]] are later derived from these molecules.<ref>{{cite web| title=Glycolysis in Detail| publisher=Ohio State University at Mansfield| access-date=2011-07-10| url=http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol4025.htm}}</ref>
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 [[lipid]]s, [[amino acid]]s, nucleotides, and carbohydrates.
* Trioses are small carbon molecules and can therefore be easily modified into various molecules.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Carbohydrates}}
[[Category:Trioses]]
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