A structural study of the type I aldolases has been carried out to examine the isozyme specificity of these enzymes and the potential for designing specific inhibitors. Natural mutations in these aldolase enzymes are associated with haemolytic anaemia and fructose intolerance. It has also been proposed that inhibition of the parasitic version of the enzyme may provide a new lead in the design of drugs against malaria and sleeping sickness. X-ray crystallographic data is used with molecular modelling techniques to investigate the structural properties of these enzymes.