Aflatoxin B1 aldehyde reductase member 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKR7A2 gene. It catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of succinic semialdehyde to gamma-hydroxybutyrate and may have an important role in producing the neuromodulator gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). AKR7A2 has broad substrate specificity and NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase activity towards 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, 2-nitrobenzaldehyde and pyridine-2-aldehyde (in vitro). AKR7A2 can reduce 1,2-naphthoquinone and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (in vitro) and reduce the dialdehyde protein-binding form of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to the non-binding AFB1 dialcohol. It may be involved in protection of liver against the toxic and carcinogenic effects of AFB1, a potent hepatocarcinogen.
