glyceraldehyde

Description

Glyceraldehyde is a simple sugar (monosaccharide) compound with chemical formula C3H6O3. It is an intermediate compound in the metabolism of carbohydrates, principally when a molecule of fructose (a common sugar in fruits) is hydrolyzed by enzymes to form one molecule of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and one molecule of glyceraldehyde. The word glyceraldehyde is derived from glycerine and aldehyde, as glyceraldehyde is merely glycerine with one hydroxymethylene group.

The Uses of glyceraldehyde

Glyceraldehyde is a sweet colorless crystalline solid with a molecular weight of 90.08 g mol
1. The solubility in water is 29 200 mg l-1. It is used in nutrition; in the preparation of polyesters and adhesives; as a cellulose modifier; and in the tanning of leather. It is also used in biochemical research as the ‘D’ stereoisomer is used as ‘reference’ chemical because it is one of the simplest molecules to compare against other molecules, such as sugars and amino acids. The conformation of the alcohol and aldehyde groups around the central carbon of Dglyceraldehyde helps scientists evaluate the structure and nomenclature (identity) of other simple sugars, such as glucose. This makes glyceraldehyde an important tool and reference standard for the biochemist.

Definition

ChEBI: Glyceraldehyde is an aldotriose comprising propanal having hydroxy groups at the 2- and 3-positions. It plays role in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), a deleterious accompaniment to ageing. It has a role as a fundamental metabolite.

Environmental Fate

Because this chemical is a metabolic intermediate and could easily be utilized by microorganisms, a release or spill of this compound into the general environment would not be expected to have any long-term adverse effects as the half-life in soil or water would be expected to be very brief.

Toxicity evaluation

Glyceraldehyde has only been shown to be toxic in cell cultures where excess concentrations apparently interfere with normal mechanisms of carbohydrate metabolism, possibly by forming by-products induced by reactive oxygen species.