Tetrose
class of saccharides
In organic chemistry, a tetrose is a monosaccharide with 4 carbon atoms. They have either an aldehyde (−CH=O) functional group in position 1 (aldotetroses) or a ketone (>C=O) group in position 2 (ketotetroses).
The aldotetroses have two chiral centers (asymmetric carbon atoms) and so 4 different stereoisomers are possible. There are two naturally occurring stereoisomers, the enantiomers of erythrose and threose having the D configuration but not the L enantiomers. The ketotetroses have one chiral center and, therefore, two possible stereoisomers: erythrulose (L- and D-form). Again, only the D enantiomer is naturally occurring.
Biological Functions
There are a few known ways that tetrose sugars are used in nature. Some are seen in metabolic pathways and others are known to affect certain enzymes.
Intermediates in the Pentose Phosphate Pathway
One of the metabolic pathways that a tetrose is involved in is the Pentose Phosphate Pathway. In the Pentose Phosphate Pathway, there is an oxidative stage and a non-oxidative stage.
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