Triosephosphate isomerase is the fifth enzyme in glycolysis and its canonical function is the
reversible isomerization of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. Within the
last decade multiple other functions, that may not necessarily always involve catalysis, have been described.
These include variations in the degree of its expression in many types of cancer and participation
in the regulation of the cell cycle. Triosephosphate isomerase may function as an auto-antigen and
in the evasion of the immune response, as a factor of virulence of some organisms, and also as an important
allergen, mainly in a variety of seafoods. It is an important factor to consider in the cryopreservation
of semen and seems to play a major role in some aspects of the development of Alzheimer's disease. It
also seems to be responsible for neurodegenerative alterations in a few cases of human triosephosphate
isomerase deficiency. Thus, triosephosphate isomerase is an excellent example of a moonlighting protein.
A novel convenient preparation of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and its use in enzymatic aldol reactions
