DERA (deoxyribose-phosphate aldolase) is a class I aldolase that catalyzes the reversible aldol reaction between acetaldehyde and D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to generate 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate 1. This enzyme represents the human deoxyribose phosphate aldolase and is highly expressed in lung, liver, and colon tissues 2. DERA functions in the pentose-phosphate shunt pathway and participates in 2'-deoxyribonucleoside catabolism. Beyond its metabolic role, DERA plays a crucial function in cellular stress response by interacting with stress granule component YBX1 and being recruited to stress granules during oxidative or mitochondrial stress 2. Cells with reduced DERA expression form fewer stress granules and show increased susceptibility to apoptosis under stress conditions 2. Additionally, DERA enables cells to utilize extracellular deoxyinosine for ATP production when mitochondrial ATP synthesis is compromised, providing an alternative energy pathway during metabolic stress 2. The enzyme also suppresses DNA damage caused by cytarabine treatment 3. Genetic variants in DERA have been associated with melanoma survival outcomes, suggesting potential clinical relevance in cancer prognosis 4.