Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase--beyond the realm of red cell biology.
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is critical to the maintenance of NADPH pool and redox homeostasis. Conventionally, G6PD deficiency has been associated with hemolytic disorders. Most biochemical variants were identified and characterized at molecular level. Recently, a number of studies have shone light on the roles of G6PD in aspects of physiology other than erythrocytic pathophysiology. G6PD deficiency alters the redox homeostasis, and affects dysfunctional cell growth and signaling, anomalous embryonic development, and altered susceptibility to infection. The present article gives a brief review of basic science and clinical findings about G6PD, and covers the latest development in the field. Moreover, how G6PD status alters the susceptibility of the affected individuals to certain degenerative diseases is also discussed.
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Kwei-san, Tao-yuan , Taiwan.
H-Y
HY
Ho
M-L
ML
Cheng
D T-Y
DT
Chiu
D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000502:physiology*; D005955:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans
D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase
G6PD; NADPH; antioxidant; reactive oxygen species