ALDOSE REDUCTASE Meaning and
Definition
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Aldose reductase is an enzyme that plays a significant role in the metabolism of sugars within living organisms. It is an oxidoreductase enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of aldoses, a type of sugar containing an aldehyde functional group, into their corresponding sugar alcohols known as alditol. This conversion occurs through a reduction reaction that involves the transfer of electrons. The enzyme achieves this by using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as a cofactor.
Aldose reductase is particularly important in the polyol pathway, a metabolic pathway that occurs in various tissues such as the liver, lens of the eye, and peripheral nerves. In this pathway, it converts glucose into sorbitol, which can further undergo metabolism and be converted to fructose. This pathway is crucial for maintaining the osmotic equilibrium in cells and regulating their water content.
While aldo reductase plays a physiological role in the metabolism of sugars, its activity can also have pathological implications. For instance, excessive activity of the enzyme has been associated with diabetes and diabetic complications, as its overproduction of sorbitol can lead to osmotic stress and damage in tissues such as the kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
In conclusion, aldose reductase is an essential enzyme involved in sugar metabolism, catalyzing the conversion of aldoses to alditol through a reduction reaction. While its activity is crucial for normal cell function, its excessive activity can have detrimental effects, particularly in diabetic individuals.
Common Misspellings for ALDOSE REDUCTASE
- zldose reductase
- sldose reductase
- wldose reductase
- qldose reductase
- akdose reductase
- apdose reductase
- aodose reductase
- alsose reductase
- alxose reductase
- alcose reductase
- alfose reductase
- alrose reductase
- aleose reductase
- aldise reductase
- aldkse reductase
- aldlse reductase
- aldpse reductase
- ald0se reductase
- ald9se reductase
- aldoae reductase
Etymology of ALDOSE REDUCTASE
The word "Aldose Reductase" is formed by combining two terms: "aldose" and "reductase".
1. Aldose: The term "aldose" comes from the combination of "alcohol" and "aldehyde". It refers to a type of sugar molecule that contains an aldehyde functional group (a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and single-bonded to a hydrogen atom).
2. Reductase: The term "reductase" is derived from the word "reduce", which means to undergo a reduction reaction. In biochemistry, a reductase is an enzyme that catalyzes reduction reactions by transferring electrons and reducing a substrate molecule.
Thus, "Aldose Reductase" represents an enzyme that specifically acts on aldose sugars and participates in their reduction reactions.
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