ALDH2 Mouse mAb

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) is a crucial mitochondrial enzyme that serves as the primary catalyst for the oxidation of acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct of ethanol metabolism, into harmless acetate, thereby playing a pivotal role in alcohol detoxification and cellular protection against oxidative stress. Encoded by the ALDH2 gene on chromosome 12, this homotetrameric protein is particularly significant in East Asian populations, where a common genetic variant (Glu504Lys, known as ALDH2*2) results in a dominant-negative loss of enzymatic activity, leading to the characteristic "Asian flush" syndrome characterized by facial flushing, nausea, and tachycardia upon alcohol consumption due to acetaldehyde accumulation. Beyond its central function in alcohol metabolism, ALDH2 is increasingly recognized for its broader cytoprotective roles, including the detoxification of reactive aldehydes generated during lipid peroxidation, which links its activity to the pathogenesis of various diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and cancer, making it a promising therapeutic target for mitigating tissue damage induced by oxidative stress and ischemia-reperfusion injury.