The glycerol metabolism begins with the reversible reaction of 3-phosphoglyceric acid to glyceric acid through a D-glycerate 3-kinase. Glyceric acid then reacts with a NADH driven aldehyde dehydrogenase resulting in the release of water and glyceraldehyde. Glyceraldehyde is then turned to glycerol through an alcohol dehydrogenase. Glycerol can then either react in a reversible reaction with a glycerol dehydrogenase resulting in the release of dihydroxyacetone. On the other hand glycerol can be phosphorylated through a glycerol kinase resulting in the release of glycerol 3 phosphate. Both glycerol 3 phosphate and dihydroxyacetone lead to the production of 1-oleyl-2-lyso-phosphatidate. Dihydroxyacetone is then phosphorylated through a dihydroxyacetone kinase resulting in the release of glycerone phosphate. Glycerone phosphate reacts with oleoyl-CoA (an acyl-CoA) through a glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase resulting in the release of 1-oleoyl-2-lyso-glycerone phosphate. Glycerol 3 phosphate can go back to a glycerol through a glycerol 3-phosphatase. It can also be react with a oleoyl-CoA through a glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase resulting in the release of 1-oleyl-2-lyso-phosphatidate. This compound reacts with an oleoyl-CoA through a Lysophosphatidic acid:oleoyl-CoA acyltransferase resulting in the release of a dioleoyl phosphatidate

Glycerol Metabolism References