Journal of Biochemistry Research

Glucose-6-phosphate Dehydrogenase

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may be a genetic disease that happens almost exclusively in males. In affected individuals, a defect in an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase causes red blood cells to interrupt down prematurely. This destruction of red blood cells is named hemolysis.The most common medical problem related to glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is haemolytic anaemia , which occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the body can replace them. This type of anemia results in paleness, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), dark urine, fatigue, shortness of breath, and a rapid pulse . In people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, haemolytic anaemia is most frequently triggered by bacterial or viral infections or by certain drugs (such as some antibiotics and medications wont to treat malaria). Hemolytic anemia also can occur after eating fava beans or inhaling pollen from fava plants (a reaction called favism). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency results from mutations within the G6PD gene. This gene provides instructions for creating an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. This enzyme is involved within the normal processing of carbohydrates. It also protects red blood cells from the consequences of probably harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, which are byproducts of normal cellular functions. Chemical reactions involving glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase produce compounds that prevent reactive oxygen species from build up to toxic levels within red blood cells.    

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