Skip to main content

Aldo-Keto Reductase

Meaning

Aldo-Keto Reductases (AKRs) represent a large superfamily of cytosolic enzymes responsible for catalyzing the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols. These enzymes are vital for numerous metabolic processes, including the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. They utilize the reduced cofactors NADPH or NADH to facilitate this biochemical transformation. Their involvement in the synthesis and inactivation of key steroid hormones makes them highly significant in the domain of endocrinology and hormonal health. Clinically, their function influences the local bioavailability of androgens and estrogens within target tissues.