Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)

Lactate dehydrogenase A is an enzyme encoded by the *LDHA* gene in humans. It catalyzes the interconversion between pyruvate and L-lactate with concomitant interconversion between NADH and NAD+, playing a critical role in anaerobic glycolysis. LDHA is predominantly expressed in muscle tissue but is also found at high levels in various tumors. Its activity supports rapid ATP production under low oxygen conditions by regenerating NAD+, which sustains glycolytic flux. Overexpression or increased activity of LDHA has been linked to cancer progression, invasion, metastasis, and poor clinical outcomes. As such, it is considered a promising therapeutic target for anticancer drug development[3][6][8].

Other names

LDH-AL-lactate dehydrogenase A chainMuscle subunit of lactate dehydrogenaseM subunit

Inhibition leads to reduced conversion of pyruvate to lactate, disrupting tumor cell metabolism and proliferation[6]