Aldose reductase (AKR1B1)
Cofactors used
Clinical / pharmacological. Target of aldose reductase inhibitors; polyol accumulation in diabetes
What it does, reaction by reaction
Galactose Metabolism Carbohydrate Metabolism · Cytosol
Galactose + NADPH + H+ → galactitol + NADP+
Converts Galactose NADPH H+ into Galactitol NADP+
› Notes
Aldose reductase reduces excess galactose to galactitol using NADPH. This is a side pathway rather than a normal energy-yielding Leloir step; galactitol is poorly metabolized and can accumulate, particularly in the lens.
Sorbitol / Polyol Pathway Carbohydrate Metabolism · Cytosol
Glucose + NADPH + H+ -> sorbitol + NADP+
Converts Glucose NADPH H+ into Sorbitol NADP+
› Notes
Rate-limiting. High Km for glucose, so flux rises sharply in hyperglycaemia. Also reduces galactose to galactitol.
Showing all 2 reactions.
What accelerates and inhibits it
Regulation is pathway-specific, so each context is listed separately
No regulation recorded for this enzyme in the source documents.
Recent literature
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