In: Biology
Ans. The role of glucose -6 - phosphate dehydrogrdehy play a key role in protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS) . Ros generated in oxidative metabolism inflict demage on all classes of macromolecules and can ultimately lead to cell death . ROS are implicated in a number of human disease . Reduced glutathione (GSH) ,a tripeptide with a free sulfhydryl group,is required to combat oxidative stress and maintain the normal reduced state in the cell.
Oxidased glutathione( GSSG) is reduced by NADPH generated by g6- pd ,in the pentose phosphate pathway . Cells with reduce level of glu-6- pd are specially sensitive to oxidative stress . This stress is most acute in red blood cell because , lacking mitochondria , they have no alternative means of reducing power
Eg.deficiency cause a drug - induced hemolytic anemia.
Deficiency Confers an evolutionary advantage in some circumstances ( protect against falciparum malaria . )