The present invention relates to polypeptides which are galacturonate (GalA) reductase variants comprising at least one amino acid substitution at a position corresponding to K261 and/or R267. The present invention further relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides and to host cells containing said nucleic acid molecules. The present invention further relates to a method for the production of L-galactonate (GalOA) and/or other bio-based compounds, comprising the expression of said nucleic acid molecules, preferably in said host cells. The present invention also relates to the use of the polypeptides, nucleic acids molecule or host cells for the production of L-galactonate (GalOA) and/or other bio-based compounds, and/or for the recombinant fermentation of biomaterial containing D-galacturonate (GalA).