Which enzyme deficiency can cause hemolysis after exposure to certain drugs because red blood cells cannot generate adequate reducing power?

### Why this is right Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase initiates the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway, which produces NADPH. The material links inherited deficiency of this enzyme in red blood cells with drug-triggered hemolysis. ### The concept NADPH provides reducing power. Red blood cells depend on the pentose phosphate pathway as a source of NADPH, so reduced pathway activity can make them more vulnerable to oxidative stress from certain drugs. ### The other options - **Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase deficiency**: Causes impaired gluconeogenesis, lactic acidosis, and hypoglycemia. - **Liver glycogen phosphorylase deficiency**: Causes Hers disease. - **Galactokinase deficiency**: Disrupts the first phosphorylation step of galactose metabolism. ### Terms - **Hemolysis**: Destruction of red blood cells. - **NADPH**: Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, a source of reducing power. ### Remember Red-cell drug-triggered hemolysis in this material points to deficient pentose phosphate pathway activity.