Structural and functional analysis of aldolase B mutants related to hereditary fructose intolerance

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a recessively inherited disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by impaired function of human liver aldolase (B isoform). 25 enzyme-impairing mutations have been identified in the aldolase B gene. We have studied the HFI-related mutant recombinant proteins W147R, A149P, A174D, L256P, N334K and delta6ex6 in relation to aldolase B function and structure using kinetic assays and molecular graphics analysis. We found that these mutations affect aldolase B function by decreasing substrate affinity, maximal velocity and/or enzyme stability. Finally, the functional and structural analyses of the non-natural mutant Q354E provide insight into the catalytic role of Arg(303), whose natural mutants are associated to HFI.