Sugar alcohol dehydrogenases are a group of enzymes that play a vital role in the metabolism of sugar alcohols in living organisms. These enzymes catalyze the oxidation or reduction reactions of sugar alcohols, converting them into their corresponding aldehyde or ketone forms. Sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are carbohydrates with an alcohol functional group, such as sorbitol or xylitol.
Sugar alcohol dehydrogenases are classified as oxidoreductases, as they facilitate the transfer of electrons between sugar alcohol and a coenzyme. They typically utilize the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) as a coenzyme, enabling the conversion of sugar alcohols to their respective aldehyde or ketone derivatives.
These enzymes are found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals. They serve important physiological functions related to energy metabolism and detoxification processes. In some organisms, sugar alcohol dehydrogenases are responsible for the breakdown and utilization of dietary sugar alcohols, while in others, they are involved in the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates.
The activity of sugar alcohol dehydrogenases has practical applications. They have been utilized in biotechnology for the production of industrially relevant products, such as biofuels and pharmaceutical intermediates. Additionally, these enzymes have gained significance in the food and beverage industry for the production of low-calorie sweeteners, where sugar alcohols are used as sugar substitutes. Overall, sugar alcohol dehydrogenases are crucial enzymes involved in the metabolism and utilization of sugar alcohols in various biological systems.
