ALDH2

Introduction

Some kind of intro, where it’s located, coding gene is located on chromosome 12 (12q24.2), 44kpbs in lenght with 13 exons…

Structure

spinqualitylabelsall models Human mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase, apo form (PDB entry 3N80) Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image   Print3D Homotetramer functioning as dimer of dimers.

Function

Detoxifying of toxic aldehydes, involved in many pathways such as ethanol breakdown, lipid metabolization, role in oxidative stress of cell.

Mutations

spinqualitylabelsall models Human Mitochondrial Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Asian Variant, ALDH2*2, complexed with agonist Alda-1 (PDB entry 3INL) Show:Asymmetric Unit Biological Assembly Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate   Export Animated Image   Print3D There are seven mutations observed in different ethnicities with higher relative prevalence, there is more cancer issued mutations. Most studied of them is East Asian mutation (ALDH2*2) connected with alcohol flushing syndrome and other diseases. ALDH2 designation Mutation Location AA change Major ethnicity Allele frequency Relative activity WT (ALDH2*1) ALDH2*2 E504K 504 Glu → Lys East Asian 26.6% 0% ALDH2*3 I41V single-carbon change in the AA side chain African 0.6% 60% ALDH2*4 P92T 92 Pro → Thr Latino 2.5% 32% ALDH2*5 T244M 244 Thr → Met South Asian 0.7% 38% ALDH2*6 V304M 304 Val → Met Latino 2.4% 11% ALDH2*7 R338W 338 Arg → Trp Finnish 1.2% 23% Alcohol liver disease ALDH2*2 alcohol flushing response is semidominant, thus heterozygotic individuals show lesser phenotype. After moderate consumption of alcohol, individuals affected by alcohol suffer from heavier hangover symptoms, homozygotes, even extreme one such as tachycardia, hypotension, nausea, and vomiting. Heterozygotes have reported subjectively more intense and more pleasant rection to alcohol than individuals with ALDH2*1/2*1. There are fewer people with at least one copy of ALDH2*2 who suffer from liver cirrhosis. Therefore, is concluded that this mutation can serve as protection against alcohol abuse. This fact depends on cultural differences and relationship with alcohol as the protective effect is somehow weaker in African or European populations, as there can be social pressure to drink more alcohol in social activities, even in Eastern cultures people with flushing cannot escape or reject such alcoholism. Generally, individuals with the ALDH2 polymorphism experience less hepatic oxidative stress due to lesser alcohol consumption, by cumulating unprocessed acetaldehyde. Consequently, artificial regulation of ALH2 may be used as potential therapeutic intervention for alcoholism .

Non-alcoholic liver diseases

Although ALHD2 misfunction can play a protective role against, on the other hand, it can increase the number of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among carriers of ALDH2*2. This can be the result of the missing ALDH2 enzyme for preserving mitochondrial respiratory function or for the cleavage of aldehydes, which can be byproducts of fat metabolism. .

There are concerns about metabolic interaction between retinol and ethanol metabolism. As I can result in inhibition of immunological feedback to some viral infections such as viral hepatitis. Among ALDH2*2 patients has increased probability of developing liver cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is suspected of connection with ALHD2 deficiency as it could be result of habitual alcohol drinking, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or HBV. Due to the oxidative base of ethanol metabolism and the occurrence of the ALDH2 enzyme in mitochondria, is cocluded a correlation between low ALDH2 activity and liver cancer.

Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Marek Földi, Michal Hub, Michal Harel