page_title: Galactose epimerase deficiency
section_title: Biochemical basis
hierarchical_section_title: Galactose epimerase deficiency / Genetics / Biochemical basis
caption_attribution_description: English: Diagram of galactose metabolic pathways
context_page_description: Galactose epimerase deficiency, also known as GALE deficiency, Galactosemia III and UDP-galactose-4-epimerase deficiency, is a rare, autosomal recessive form of galactosemia associated with a deficiency of the enzyme galactose epimerase.
context_section_description: GALE deficiency inhibits UDP-glucose regeneration, preventing the formation of glucose-1-phosphate and leading to the accumulation of galactose and galactose-1-phosphate. High galactose-1-phosphate levels have been shown to interfere with phosphoglucomutase, glycogen phosphorylase, UDP-glycopyrophosphorylase, activity in bacterial models and in vitro, yet in vivo mechanisms toxicity have yet to be confirmed. Regardless, median galactose-1-phosphate levels act as the most accurate predictors of the severity of symptoms associated with Type III galactosemia.
  Blockage of the Leloir pathway by GALE deficiency or dysfunction activates alternate pathways of glucose metabolism and leads to galactitol and galactonate formation. Galactonate is metabolized by the pentose phosphate pathway, and is not considered toxic. Galactitol, however, may accumulate in lens fibers, perturbing lens epithelial cell permeability and leading to cell death and cataract formation. GALE deficiency also perturbs glycolipid and glycoprotein biosynthesis due to decreased production of UDP-GalNAc from UDP-GlcNAc.
caption: Pathways, intermediates, and enzymes involved in galactose metabolism.[3]
exif: {}