IDH1

IDH1 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1) is a cytosolic and peroxisomal NADP+-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of isocitrate to α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) while generating NADPH, thereby supporting cellular redox homeostasis and intermediary metabolism[1][2]. Mechanistically, IDH1 contributes to metabolic pathways that regulate oxidative stress responses, biosynthetic processes, and α-KG availability for multiple cellular reactions[1][2]. In cancer biology, IDH1 is notable because recurrent mutations, most commonly affecting residue R132, confer a neomorphic enzymatic activity that converts α-KG into D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D-2HG), an oncometabolite that accumulates in tumor cells[3][2][4]. Elevated D-2HG inhibits α-KG-dependent dioxygenases, resulting in widespread epigenetic alterations and impaired cellular differentiation that contribute to tumor development and progression[2][4][5]. These molecular effects have been extensively studied in glioma and acute myeloid leukemia models, where mutant IDH1 functions as an early driver of tumorigenesis and metabolic reprogramming[4][5][6]. Compared with the related isoform IDH2, which is localized primarily in mitochondria, IDH1 is predominantly cytosolic and peroxisomal, creating distinct subcellular metabolic functions despite sharing similar catalytic chemistry[1][7]. For experimental applications, selective mutant IDH1 inhibitors reduce D-2HG production and promote cellular differentiation in preclinical models, making them valuable tools for investigating IDH1-dependent metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms in cancer research[5][6][8].