Polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase and its application to alcoholism.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) consists of four different isozymes (I, II, III, IV). Among these, ALDH I shows genetic polymorphism (normal and deficient) in a population of Mongoloid origin. The significantly lower frequency of ALDH I deficiency was found in alcoholic patients compared with healthy controls. ALDH I deficiency is one of the important genetic factors in regulating alcohol consumption and plays a protective role against alcoholism. Population genetic studies on ALDH I deficiency in different ethnic groups indicate that ALDH deficiency was found only in Mongoloid population groups.
Harada
S
S
Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Japan.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing / Q000379:methods; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D007527:Isoenzymes; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase