Triose

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.

[2] Importance of Triose in the Body

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.