triose

{{Short description|Sugar containing three carbon atoms}}

Image:D-glyceraldehyde-2D-skeletal.svg is an aldotriose because the carbonyl group is at the end of the chain]]

Image:1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-one 200.svg is a ketotriose because the carbonyl group is the center of the chain.]]

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.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

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.