title: Aldehyde dehydrogenases: from eye crystallins to metabolic disease and cancer stem cells.
abstract: The aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) superfamily is composed of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)(+))-dependent enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids. To date, 24 ALDH gene families have been identified in the eukaryotic genome. In addition to aldehyde metabolizing capacity, ALDHs have additional catalytic (e.g. esterase and reductase) and non-catalytic activities. The latter include functioning as structural elements in the eye (crystallins) and as binding molecules to endobiotics and xenobiotics. Mutations in human ALDH genes and subsequent inborn errors in aldehyde metabolism are the molecular basis of several diseases. Most recently ALDH polymorphisms have been associated with gout and osteoporosis. Aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes also play important roles in embryogenesis and development, neurotransmission, oxidative stress and cancer. This article serves as a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge regarding the ALDH superfamily and the contribution of ALDHs to various physiological and pathophysiological processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80445, USA. vasilis.vasiliou@ucdenver.edu
authors.forename: Vasilis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasiliou
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Clay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000201:enzymology*; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D000444:Aldehyde Dehydrogenase