Effect of urea and betaine on Km of human aldose reductase for d-xylose. ∗, Significantly different from control (P < 0.05). Additional significant differences with wild-type (n = 3) are urea versus betaine and urea versus urea + betaine. With C298A mutant (n = 5), all other differences are also significant. Mean control values of Km are wild-type, 9.4 mM, and C298A, 229 mM.