Stomach aldehyde dehydrogenase: report of a new locus.

Two distinct human liver and one erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) were reported earlier.. In this study we show evidence to support the existence of another aldehyde dehydrogenase in human stomach tissues. This enzyme does not utilize formaldehyde, acetaldehyde or pyruvic aldehyde as substrate. Furfuraldehyde is readily oxidized while propion-aldehyde is used to a lesser extent. One genetic variant was seen among 71 Chinese stomach specimens while another different variant was found among 33 Indian samples.