Glocose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase know as G6PD is considered as the archetypical X-linked
"housekeepoing" enzyme that is present in all cells, where it plays a key role in regulation of carbon flow
through the pentose phosphate pathway. Specifically, the enzyme catalyses the first step of this pathway
leading to the production of pentose phosphates and reducing power in the form of NADPH for the reductive
biosynthesis and maintenance of rebox state in the cell . Blood cells are at a canstant danger of damage
due to production of free radicals in the body . G6PD enyme helps to produce glutathione which fights with
these free radicalsand protect the blood cell from damage . Deficiency of G6PD because of ' food or drug induced
hemolysis' decrease the productin of glutathione thus exposing the blood cells to the free radicals produced .
The deficiency may arise if the gene responsiblefor the production of G6PD ( on the X-chromosome) gets mutated .
This further hapers the production of glutathione . The is the most commom 'RBC enzyme deficiency '
affecting approximately 0.5- 26% of the world 's population .
