Multiple antioxidant and glucose-metabolism-related enzymes

Multiple antioxidant and glucose-metabolism-related enzymes is a descriptive category rather than a single, specific therapeutic target. This grouping typically includes enzymes responsible for neutralizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), alongside enzymes central to carbohydrate metabolism, such as hexokinase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (Sies et al., 2017, Annual Review of Biochemistry). These enzymes are often co-regulated by master transcription factors like Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) or metabolic sensors like AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to maintain cellular homeostasis under stress (He et al., 2017, Physiological Reviews). In the context of drug development, this term is frequently used to describe the pleiotropic effects of compounds like metformin or bardoxolone methyl that improve metabolic health and reduce oxidative damage (Hardie et al., 2012, Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology). However, because the term describes a functional group rather than a specific molecular entity or a single gene product, it is not considered a canonical drug target in pharmacological databases like UniProt or the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology. Targeting these pathways collectively aims to restore redox balance and metabolic efficiency in diseases such as type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration. Despite the therapeutic potential of modulating these enzymes, the lack of a single molecular focus presents challenges for traditional drug screening and specificity.

Other names

Antioxidant enzymesGlucose metabolism enzymesRedox-regulating enzymesAntioxidant and metabolic enzyme group

Indirect modulation via upstream transcriptional regulators or metabolic sensors to enhance antioxidant defense and normalize glucose flux.