Dehydrogenases

Dehydrogenases are oxidoreductase enzymes. They catalyze the oxidation of a substrate through the transfer of hydrogen (hydride) to an acceptor (or co-enzyme). Dehydrogenases are classified according to the donor group, e.g. alcohol or aldehyde, and the acceptor. Acceptors include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ or NADH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+ or NADPH), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and cytochromes. Dehydrogenase enzymes are important in multiple physiological processes, including normal cellular metabolism as part of the TCA (Krebs) cycle, or in cancer metabolism in the glycolysis pathway.