D-ribose metabolic disorder and diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2024-12, Vol.51 (1), p.220-220, Article 220
• Main Authors: Tai, Yu, Zhang, Zehong, Liu, Zhi, Li, Xiaojing, Yang, Zhongbin, Wang, Zeying, An, Liang, Ma, Qiang, Su, Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; Adenosine Triphosphate; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Apoptosis; Biomedical and Life Sciences; cardiac output; Cell lines; Congestive heart failure; D-Ribose; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - drug therapy; digestion; Heart Failure; Histology; Humans; Life Sciences; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Morphology; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Nucleotides; pentose phosphate cycle; Pentose phosphate pathway; pentoses; Phosphorylation; Review; Riboflavin; Ribose; Ribose - metabolism; RNA; therapeutics
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-09076-y

D-ribose, an ubiquitous pentose compound found in all living cells, serves as a vital constituent of numerous essential biomolecules, including RNA, nucleotides, and riboflavin. It plays a crucial role in various fundamental life processes. Within the cellular milieu, exogenously supplied D-ribose can undergo phosphorylation to yield ribose-5-phosphate (R-5-P). This R-5-P compound serves a dual purpose: it not only contributes to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production through the nonoxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) but also participates in nucleotide synthesis. Consequently, D-ribose is employed both as a therapeutic agent for enhancing cardiac function in heart failure patients and as a remedy for post-exercise fatigue. Nevertheless, recent clinical studies have suggested a potential link between D-ribose metabolic disturbances and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) along with its associated complications. Additionally, certain in vitro experiments have indicated that exogenous D-ribose exposure could trigger apoptosis in specific cell lines. This article comprehensively reviews the current advancements in D-ribose’s digestion, absorption, transmembrane transport, intracellular metabolic pathways, impact on cellular behaviour, and elevated levels in diabetes mellitus. It also identifies areas requiring further investigation.