ALDH2 Active Protein

ALDH2: This protein belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase family of proteins. Aldehyde dehydrogenase is the second enzyme of the major oxidative pathway of alcohol metabolism. Two major liver isoforms of aldehyde dehydrogenase, cytosolic and mitochondrial, can be distinguished by their electrophoretic mobilities, kinetic properties, and subcellular localizations. Most Caucasians have two major isozymes, while approximately 50% of Orientals have the cytosolic isozyme but not the mitochondrial isozyme. A remarkably higher frequency of acute alcohol intoxication among Orientals than among Caucasians could be related to the absence of a catalytically active form of the mitochondrial isozyme. The increased exposure to acetaldehyde in individuals with the catalytically inactive form may also confer greater susceptibility to many types of cancer. This gene encodes a mitochondrial isoform, which has a low Km for acetaldehydes, and is localized in mitochondrial matrix. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms.[provided by RefSeq, Mar 2011]

Protein type: Amino Acid Metabolism - arginine and proline; Amino Acid Metabolism - histidine; Amino Acid Metabolism - lysine degradation; Amino Acid Metabolism - tryptophan; Amino Acid Metabolism - valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation; Carbohydrate Metabolism - ascorbate and aldarate; Carbohydrate Metabolism - butanoate; Carbohydrate Metabolism - glycolysis and gluconeogenesis; Carbohydrate Metabolism - propanoate; Carbohydrate Metabolism - pyruvate; EC 1.2.1.3; Lipid Metabolism - fatty acid; Lipid Metabolism - glycerolipid; Mitochondrial; Other Amino Acids Metabolism - beta-alanine; Oxidoreductase; Secondary Metabolites Metabolism - limonene and pinene degradation

Cellular Component: mitochondrion

Molecular Function: aldehyde dehydrogenase (NAD) activity; identical protein binding

Biological Process: negative regulation of apoptosis