Tetrose

Tetrose is a type of monosaccharide with four carbon atoms. They have either an aldehyde functional group, making them an aldotetrose, or a ketone functional group, making them a ketotetrose.

Structure and Classification

Tetroses are classified based on the functional group present and the chirality of the third carbon atom. If the functional group is an aldehyde, the sugar is an aldotetrose. If the functional group is a ketone, the sugar is a ketotetrose.

Aldotetroses

There are two aldotetroses, which are erythrose and threose. They are both chiral, meaning they have an asymmetric carbon atom and can exist in two different forms, known as enantiomers.

Ketotetroses

There is only one ketotetrose, which is erythrulose. It is also chiral and can exist in two different forms.

Biological Importance

Tetroses are not as common as other types of sugars, but they are still important in biology. For example, erythrose is a component of the pentose phosphate pathway, which is important for the production of NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate.

See Also

• Monosaccharide
• Pentose
• Hexose

Tetrose Resources
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