ALDH deficiency

Figure 5 Model of phosphorus (P) deficiency-induced physiological changes associated with the release of P-mobilizing root exudates in cluster roots of white lupin. Solid lines indicate stimulation and dotted lines inhibition of biochemical reaction sequences or mclaholic pathways in response to P deliciency. For a detailed description see Sec. 4.1. Abbreviations SS = sucrose synthase FK = fructokinase PGM = phosphoglueomutase PEP = phosphoenol pyruvate PE PC = PEP-carboxylase MDH = malate dehydrogenase ME = malic enzyme CS = citrate synthase PDC = pyruvate decarboxylase ALDH — alcohol dehydrogenase E-4-P = erythrosc-4-phosphate DAMP = dihydraxyaceConephos-phate APase = acid phosphatase.

Some people, primarily of Asian descent, have a genetic deficiency in the activity of the mitochondrial form of ALDH. 

Unlike many DNA alkylators, cyclophosphamide shows modest selectivity for cancer cells. Healthy tissues in a patient have high levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ALDH reduces the potency of cyclophosphamide by oxidizing 6.32 to 6.34, an inactive compound. Cancerous cells tend to be deficient in ALDH and more prone to damage by cyclophosphamide. 

LIVER Ethanol produces a constellation of dose-related deleterious effects in the liver. The primary effects are fatty infiltration of the liver, hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Because of its intrinsic toxicity, alcohol can injure the liver in the absence of dietary deficiencies. The accumulation of fat in the liver is an early event and can occur in normal individuals after the ingestion of relatively small amounts of ethanol. This accumulation results from inhibition of both the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the oxidation of fat, in part, owing to the generation of excess NADH produced by the actions of ADH and ALDH (see Figure 22-1). 

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