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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 1Cite as

Dihydroxyacetone

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Synonyms

DHA; HOCH2COCH2OH

Definition

Dihydroxyacetone (IUPAC name 1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propanone) is one of the three simplest monosaccharides (“sugars”). Like the two others (L- and D-glyceraldehyde), it has three carbon atoms and is called a triose. But the molecule is symmetric and hence has no chiral center. It is present in cells where it plays a role in ATP production and other biological pathways and is produced by glycolysis. Dihydroxyacetone has been sought in the interstellar medium, but there is no convincing detection up to now.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire de Bordeaux, 2 r de l’Observatoire, BP 89, 33270, Floirac, France

    Didier Despois

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  1. Didier Despois
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Correspondence to Didier Despois .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Despois, D. (2014). Dihydroxyacetone. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1881-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1881-4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

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