MitoSciences: Aldolase B, Fructose-bisphosphate (ALDOB)

UniProt Number:	P05062
Alternate Names:	Liver-type aldolase, ALDOB
Structure and Function:	Aldolase B plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism as it catalyzes one of the major steps of the glycolytic-gluconeogenic pathway. Though it does catalyze the breakdown of glucose, it plays a particularly important role in fructose metabolism, which occurs mostly in the liver, renal cortex, and small intestinal mucosa. When fructose is absorbed, it is phosphorylated by fructokinase to form fructose 1-phosphate. Aldolase B then catalyzes F1P breakdown into glyceraldehyde and DHAP. After glyceraldehyde is phosphorylated by triose kinase to form G3P, both products can be used in the glycolytic-gluconeogenic pathway, that is, they can be modified to become either glucose or pyruvate.
Disease Associations:	Defects in ALDOB are the cause of hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) [MIM:229600]. HFI is an autosomal recessive disease that results in an inability to metabolize fructose and related sugars. Complete exclusion of fructose results in dramatic recovery; however, if not treated properly, HFI subjects suffer episodes of hypoglycemia, general ill condition, and risk of death the remainder of life.