This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is propane-1,3-diol:NAD+ 1-oxidoreductase. Other names in common use include 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde reductase, 1,3-PD:NAD+ oxidoreductase, 1,3-propanediol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, and 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase. This enzyme participates in ether lipid metabolism as a step in glycerolipid biosynthesis.
References
Abeles RH, Brownstein AM, Randles CH (1960). "beta-Hydroxypropionaldehyde, an intermediate in the formation of 1,3-propanediol by Aerobacter aerogenes". Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 41 (3): 530–1. doi:10.1016/0006-3002(60)90054-8. PMID13791444.