FUNCTION : Catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of a wide variety of carbonyl-containing compounds to their corresponding alcohols with a broad range of catalytic efficiencies. CATALYTIC ACTIVITY : Alditol + NAD(P) += aldose + NAD(P)H. SUBUNIT : Monomer. SUBCELLULAR LOCATION : Cytoplasmic. DISEASE : In diabetes and galactosemia, increased AR activity leads to high levels of sorbitol and galactitol, respectively, in the cells of many tissues. Accumulation of sugar alcohols has been shown to cause osmotic cataracts in the lens. AR is also thought to play a key role in diabetic complications of three other target tissues, namely, nerve, kidney and retina. SIMILARITY : BELONGS TO THE ALDO/KETO REDUCTASE FAMILY. |
|
27-Feb-03
Last Update 13-Mar-03