Dithioerythritol (DTE) is a sulfur containing sugar alcohol derived from the corresponding 4-carbon monosaccharide erythrose.

DTE is a crystalline solid soluble in water and alcohols.

[1][2] Like DTT, DTE makes an excellent reducing agent, which can be used for reduction of disulfide bonds.

[2] Since reduction of disulfide bonds requires thiolate (ionized thiol), DTE is less efficient at lower pH compared to DTT.

In the disulfide-bonded form of DTT, these hydroxyl groups are trans to each other, whereas they are cis to each other in DTE.