Catalyzes a reversible aldol reaction between acetaldehyde and D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to generate 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5- phosphate. Participates in stress granule (SG) assembly. May allow ATP production from extracellular deoxyinosine in conditions of energy deprivation. . This is the function of DERA (deoxyribose-phosphate aldolase, Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000023697).