BIOCHEMISTRY

TOPIC: ALCOHOL METABOLISM

PRESENT BY: ABDUL AZIM
AZIM
HAMID IQBAL
KAVITHA GUNALAN
TEO RUI LING
NUR NAZAHAH
NUR SYAHIRAH
MELISA

Alcohol Metabolism
The major pathway found in the liver
The reaction involves the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).
Alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde
In most circumstances, acetaldehyde is rapidly metabolized by another enzyme, aldehyde
dehydrogenase (ALDH) to acetate.
Because of the rapid enzymatic conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate, the concentration of
acetaldehyde in the cell is typically a thousand-fold lower than alcohol.

Alcohol Metabolism

Metabolism of a dose of alcohol achieving a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg%

It may result in elevation of tissue acetate levels by 100 mg%.
When the level of acetaldehyde increases,
a)

An individual may experience very dysphoric feelings.

b)

The potential for toxic reactions with various cellular components increases .

Alcohol Enzymes
The three enzymes which can convert alcohol to acetaldehyde are:
alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1)
catalase

These three enzymes are each found in different parts of the body.
Each of them handles the hydrogen atoms which are stripped off from the alcohol molecule in a
different way.

Alcohol dehydrogenase
Alcohol dehydrogenase is the workhorse of the alcohol enzymes.
It breaks down the majority of the alcohol that enters the human body.
Researchers have identified as many as 10 varieties of the alcohol dehydrogenase molecule. All of
them bring about the same chemical reaction.
The difference is that some varieties of alcohol dehydrogenase work more efficiently than others.
These variations in the alcohol dehydrogenase molecule can explain why some individuals react
differently to alcohol than others.

Alcohol dehydrogenase
Reaction:
Alcohol dehydrogenase does its work in the cellular fluid (cytosol) of the stomach and the liver
cell, although traces of them are found in other tissues as well.
ADH turns alcohol into acetaldehyde.
The hydrogen bound to a compound called NAD+ to form NADH.

Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)

In light social drinkers nearly all the alcohol consumed is taken care of by alcohol dehydrogenase.
However, the enzyme Cytochrome P450 2E1 (abbreviated CYP2E1) becomes quite active in
metabolizing alcohol in chronic heavy drinkers.
Reaction:
CYP2E1 does its work in the liver and microsomes of the cell.
The hydrogen released by this reaction is bound to oxygen and to NADPH to form water and
NADP+.
This reaction takes energy rather than producing it.

Catalase
Catalase is found all over the human body specifically, in tiny organs inside of cells called
peroxisomes.
Although catalase is active everywhere in the body, catalase is of particular interest to researchers
because it metabolizes alcohol in the brain.
The acetaldehyde released into the brain from the alcohol metabolism by catalase
It has the potential to combine with neurotransmitters to form new compounds known as THIQs
(tetrahydroisoquinolines, also sometimes called TIQs).
Some researchers believe that THIQs are the cause of alcohol addiction and that the presence of
THIQs distinguishes addicted drinkers from social drinkers.
Other researches strongly dispute the validity of the THIQ hypothesis of alcohol addiction.

Catalase
Reaction:
Take place in peroxisomes.
Catalase turns alcohol into acetaldehyde.
The hydrogen which is released, bound to hydrogen peroxide molecules to form water.

Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase
There are several varieties of aldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) found in the human body.
The one which normally breaks down acetaldehyde is called ALDH2.
Another variety aldehyde dehydrogenase found in the human body is called ALDH2*2.
ALDH2*2 is only about 8% as efficient as ALDH2 in metabolizing acetaldehyde.
Some East Asian people have ALDH2*2 instead of ALDH2 in their bodies. These individuals find
the effect of alcohol to be very unpleasant.

Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase
Reaction:
The aldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes are found in many tissues of the body, but are at the highest
concentration in the liver.
Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase does its work in the mitochondria of cells
It removes a hydrogen atom from acetaldehyde to produce an acetic acid radical.
This hydrogen atom combines with NAD+ to form NADH.

Excretion of Alcohol

Thank You