Meta-Biol

• Pathways

Cytosolic AKR1B1 (aldose reductase) catalyzes the reaction of glucose (Glc) and NADPH + H+ to form D-sorbitol and NADP+. This reaction was first described by Hers (1960) in sheep seminal vesicles; the human enzyme was identified by Nishimura et al. (1990) and is a potential target for treatment of diabetic neuropathy (Oates, 2008). The active enzyme is a monomer (Ruiz et al. 2004) whose amino-terminal methionine residue has been removed (Jacquinod et al. 1993). Under physiological conditions, formation of D-sorbitol is strongly favored (Grimshaw 1992).