Compound

betaine aldehyde

A quaternary ammonium ion that is nitrogen substituted by three methyl groups and a 2-oxoethyl group. It is an intermediate in the metabolism of amino acids like glycine, serine and threonine.

Definition from ChEBI (CHEBI:15710), read 2026-09-23. CC BY 4.0.

CHEBI:15710ChEBI

Open in the graph

Structure

2D depiction · 3D model shown

Loading the model…

A generated conformer of betaine aldehyde — one low-energy arrangement PubChem computed, not a measured structure. Hydrogens are not drawn; the formula counts them.

Class: Organic compound, cation
Formula: C5H12NO
Mass: 102.157 g/mol
Charge: +1
InChIKey: SXKNCCSPZDCRFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES: [H]C(=O)C[N+](C)(C)C
Look it up: ChEBI PubChem By InChIKey

Identity from ChEBI, geometry from PubChem. Not evidence.

What it touches on the way

Mechanistic reach

2 entities

2 entities reached.

0 reported hops2 assembled from the scaffold

What the reference databases state

Statements

12 statements

12 statements · 2 reference databases · Subject: betaine aldehyde · Sources: Human-GEM, Rhea

Order

choline is converted to betaine aldehydeCompoundHuman-GEM MAR08441Inferred only
choline is converted to betaine aldehydeCompoundHuman-GEM MAR04696Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is converted to glycine betaineCompoundHuman-GEM MAR08440Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is converted to glycine betaineCompoundHuman-GEM MAR04698Inferred only
glycine betaine is converted to betaine aldehydeCompoundRhea RHEA:15305Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is converted to glycine betaineCompoundHuman-GEM MAR04697Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is converted to glycine betaineCompoundRhea RHEA:15305Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is metabolised by ALDH7A1ProteinRhea RHEA:15305Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is metabolised by ALDH7A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04698Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is metabolised by ALDH7A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR04697Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is metabolised by ALDH7A1ProteinHuman-GEM MAR08440Inferred only
betaine aldehyde is a substrate of CHDHProteinRhea RHEA:17433Inferred only

Reactions

11 reactions

choline+NAD(+)betaine aldehyde+proton+NADH(2-)
Catalysed by CHDH
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.1.99.1GO:0005829
Human-GEM MAR04696CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+water+NAD(+)glycine betaine+2proton+NADH(2-)
Catalysed by ALDH7A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.2.1.8GO:0005829
Human-GEM MAR04697CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+water+NADP(3-)glycine betaine+2proton+NADPH(4-)
Catalysed by ALDH7A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.2.1.8GO:0005829
Human-GEM MAR04698CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+water+NAD(+)glycine betaine+2proton+NADH(2-)
Catalysed by ALDH7A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.2.1.8GO:0005759
Human-GEM MAR08440CC BY 4.0Reference data
choline+FADbetaine aldehyde+FADH2
Catalysed by CHDH
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalancedEC 1.1.99.1GO:0005759
Human-GEM MAR08441CC BY 4.0Reference data
choline+dioxygenbetaine aldehyde+hydrogen peroxide
Reaction pageDirection not assertedBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:13505CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+NAD(1-)+waterglycine betaine+NADH(2-)+2hydron
Catalysed by ALDH7A1
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:15305CC BY 4.0Reference data
choline+Abetaine aldehyde+AH2
Catalysed by CHDH
Reaction pageLeft to rightBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:17433CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+dioxygen+waterglycine betaine+hydrogen peroxide+hydron
Reaction pageDirection not assertedBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:20369CC BY 4.0Reference data
betaine aldehyde+NADP(3-)+waterglycine betaine+NADPH(4-)+2hydron
Reaction pageDirection not assertedBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:30067CC BY 4.0Reference data
choline+NAD(1-)betaine aldehyde+NADH(2-)+hydron
Reaction pageDirection not assertedBalance undeterminable
Rhea RHEA:33051CC BY 4.0Reference data

Other names

2 names

Resolves to: betaine aldehyde

Also called: glycine betaine aldehyde
Systematic name: N,N,N-trimethyl-2-oxoethanaminium