D-Glyceraldehyde is an aldotriose because the carbonyl group is at the end of the chain
Dihydroxyacetone 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.[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]

References

  1. ^ "Trioses - Three Carbon Sugars". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
  2. ^ "Glycolysis in Detail". Ohio State University at Mansfield. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
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