Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a recessively inherited disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by impaired function of human liver aldolase (B isoform). 25 enzyme-impairing mutations have been identified in the aldolase B gene. We have studied the HFI-related mutant recombinant proteins W147R, A149P, A174D, L256P, N334K and Delta6ex6 in relation to aldolase B function and structure using kinetic assays and molecular graphics analysis. We found that these mutations affect aldolase B function by decreasing substrate affinity, maximal velocity and/or enzyme stability. Finally, the functional and structural analyses of the non-natural mutant Q354E provide insight into the catalytic role of Arg(303), whose natural mutants are associated to BEL (C) 2002 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.