Glyceraldehyde
Glyceraldehyde is a triose monosaccharide, or simple sugar, that plays a key role in many biochemical processes. It is the simplest of all common aldoses. Glyceraldehyde is a chiral molecule that can exist in either of two stereoisomers, D-glyceraldehyde and L-glyceraldehyde.
Structure and Properties[edit | edit source]
Glyceraldehyde is a three-carbon aldehyde. It is a chiral molecule, meaning it has two possible optical isomers, or stereoisomers. These are designated D-glyceraldehyde and L-glyceraldehyde. The D-isomer is the common form in nature.
Biological Role[edit | edit source]
Glyceraldehyde plays a key role in glycolysis, the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate. It is also involved in the Calvin cycle, which is the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis.
Synthesis[edit | edit source]
Glyceraldehyde can be synthesized in the laboratory by the oxidation of glycerol, the triol that is the backbone of many lipids.
Health Implications[edit | edit source]
In the human body, glyceraldehyde can be converted to glycerol, which can then be used to produce triglycerides, a type of fat. High levels of triglycerides in the blood can increase the risk of heart disease.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Glyceraldehyde Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD