Aldolase - From Biochemistry to Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

Aldolase (ALD) (fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase ) is a 160 kDa, enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of fructose 1-6-biphosphate in glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate in the glycolytic metabolic pathway. There are also experimental data suggesting that nuclear ALD isoenzyme A might play an important role in cell proliferation. At the present time, the most useful serum markers of muscle injury following intense, prolonged exercise are: creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase myoglobin and troponin. Although serum ALD is not usually measured yet, it may be used together with CK to evaluate the status of muscle adaptation to training. Recent studies offered ALD a new perspective, as a future valuable biomarker in monitoring the evolution of muscle crush injuries, in order to prevent silent, but progressiv muscle fibers necrosis after injury. It has also been shown that ALD was an independent clinical prognostic marker in many other human cancers, being involved in some well-known signaling pathways.