Threitol Explained

Threitol is the chiral four-carbon sugar alcohol with the molecular formula C₄H₁₀O₄. It is primarily used as an intermediate in the chemical synthesis of other compounds. It exists in the enantiomorphic forms D-threitol and L-threitol, the reduced forms of D- and L-threose. It is the diastereomer of erythritol, which is used as a sugar substitute.

In living organisms, threitol is found in the edible fungus Armillaria mellea.^[1] It serves as a cryoprotectant (antifreeze agent) in the Alaskan beetle Upis ceramboides.^[2]

See also

• Antifreeze protein
• Dithiothreitol, a thiol derivative of threitol

Notes and References

1. Book: Elks. J.. Dictionary of Drugs. Ganellin. C. R.. 1990. 10.1007/978-1-4757-2085-3. 978-1-4757-2087-7.
2. Cryoprotectant biosynthesis and the selective accumulation of threitol in the freeze-tolerant Alaskan beetle, Upis ceramboides . Walters, K. R. Jr . Pan, Q. . Serianni, A. S. . Duman, J. G. . . 2009 . 284 . 25 . 16822–16831 . 10.1074/jbc.M109.013870. 2719318 . 19403530. free .