The molecular basis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency.

With more than 300 different variants reported, the human enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD; EC 1.1.1.49) is one of the most polymorphic proteins known. An estimated 400 million people throughout the world are deficient in G6PD; numerous lines of evidence indicate that this is because female heterozygotes have a selective advantage in malaria infections. The cloning of the G6PD gene has made it possible to clarify the molecular basis underlying this enzyme deficiency and polymorphism.