Aldo-keto reductases, short chain dehydrogenases/reductases, and zinc-binding dehydrogenases are key players in fungal carbon metabolism

Carbon metabolism is an essential process in fungal physiology, balancing energy availability, growth, and survival through the assimilation and breakdown of organic carbon sources. This review focuses on three major families of oxidoreductases that play central roles in fungal carbon metabolism: PF00248, PF00106, and PF00107. These enzymes are not only crucial for energy production but also for the synthesis and breakdown of complex organic molecules. PF00248, the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, is involved in a wide range of redox reactions, while PF00106 includes diverse short-chain reductase/dehydrogenases important for fungal growth and environmental adaptation. PF00107 comprises zinc-binding dehydrogenases with a role in processes such as alcohol metabolism and zinc uptake. These oxidoreductases are evolutionarily conserved with respect to amino acid sequence motifs but show significant genetic diversity across fungal species, reflecting their ecological adaptability and metabolic versatility. Understanding the functions within these enzyme families can enhance the design of efficient fungal cell factories for biotechnological applications, such as biofuel and biochemical production from plant biomass. This review highlights the importance of these enzymes in central carbon metabolism and their potential for industrial applications.