Glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase (G6PD) plays an important role in the pentose phosphate pathway. It is a member of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase family of proteins. G6PD is an ubiquitous enzyme that produces pentose sugars for nucleic acid synthesis, but is also involved in carbohydrate degradation, as it is one of the main producers of NADPH reducing power. G6PD has NADP as a co-factor and structural element. It can be found as a homodimer or homotetramer, and is primarily detected in lymphoblasts, granulocytes and sperm. Defects in G6PD can cause chronic non-spherocytic hemolytic anemia (CNSHA), especially in areas in which malaria is an epidemic. Individuals with a high level of G6PD-deficiency are at higher risk of acute hemolytic attacks.
