Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway that catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to 6-phosphogluconolactone in presence of NADP⁺. G6PD is an enzyme of vital importance because of its role in various haemolytic disorders and its potential as a regulator for various biosynthetic pathways. NADPH is the important product of the reaction and is used for the reductive biosynthesis of fatty acids, isoprenoids, aromatic amino acids, etc. NADPH produced also plays important function in the protection of the cell against oxidative agents by transferring its reductive power to glutathione disulphide via glutathione disulphide reductase. The present review deals with the importance, occurrence, structure, physico-chemical properties, genetics, and regulation of G6PD.

Key words: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADPH, pentose phosphate pathway, oxidative stress.