The multifaceted metabolic role of lactate dehydrogenase in submergence tolerance

Abstract

In this commentary, we highlight the importance of LDH in the modulation of several crucial metabolic pathways for submergence tolerance in rice. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), a tetrameric enzyme that catalyses the reversible interconversion of pyruvate and lactate during fermentation induced by hypoxia in plants and animals. Catalysing an important rate-limiting step in the glyco-metabolism pathway, the increased expression and activity of this enzyme are required for the maintenance of glycolysis under hypoxia, protecting energy homeostasis by maintaining NADH/NAD+ ratios (Ha et al. 2024). Recent evidence demonstrated the importance of LDH in the modulation of several metabolic pathways for submergence tolerance in rice (Chatterjee et al. 2025).