In vertebrate liver, the enzyme fructokinase phosphorylates fructose to fructose-1-phosphate (F1P). F1P is then cleaved by a specific enzyme, aldolase B to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), a glycolytic intermediate, and D-glyceraldehyde (see below). The latter is then phosphorylated in an ATP-dependent reaction to give the glycolytic intermediate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.

F1P <=> DHAP + D-Glyceraldehyde

This pathway of utilization bypasses phosphofructokinase regulation and may account for the ease with which dietary sucrose is converted to fat.