ADH: Enzyme Involved in Alcohol Metabolism and Drug Target (P16378)

Target Name: Alcohol dehydrogenase Class 1

NCBI ID: P16378

ADH: Enzyme Involved in Alcohol Metabolism and Drug Target

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is an enzyme that is involved in the metabolism of alcohol to produce toxic metabolites. ADH is a Class 1 enzyme, which means that it is a proton pump and belongs to the Superfamily P-C0x. This enzyme is found in most organisms, including bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes.

ADH is responsible for the conversion of alcohol to the toxic metabolite, 2-ethanol, which is then excreted from the body. The metabolism of alcohol to 2-ethanol is a critical step in the alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), which is a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur in individuals who are dependent on alcohol.

The structure and function of ADH are tightly linked. The enzyme consists of a catalytic core and two transmembrane regions. The catalytic core consists of a Rossmann-fold, which is a specific type of alpha-helices that is involved in the transfer of electrons during the reaction. The transmembrane regions contain the necessary ions and co-factors for the enzyme to function properly.

One of the unique features of ADH is its ability to convert alcohol to 2-ethanol in a specific substrate excess (substrate excess) condition. Under normal conditions, ADH reduces the concentration of the substrate (alcohol) to the level it needs to safely eliminate 2-ethanol from the body. However, in some cases, such as excessive drinking or alcoholism, ADH may not work properly, causing 2-ethanol to accumulate and causing a range of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, headaches, heart palpitations, and hallucinations.

In addition, ADH is involved in many other metabolic pathways, including the synthesis of fatty acids and ketone bodies. In the liver, ADH is responsible for synthesizing fatty acids into acetyl-CoA and transporting it to the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) for oxidative phosphorylation (aerobic oxidation). At the same time, ADH also participates in the synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, converting acetyl-CoA into ketone bodies, and converting ketone bodies into acetyl-CoA for use in the TCA cycle.

Because ADH plays an important role in metabolizing both alcohol and fatty acids, it is considered a potential drug target (or biomarker) and biomarker. Many studies have shown that ADH inhibitors can reduce drinking and binge eating behaviors and improve alcohol and fatty acid metabolism. In addition, due to the important role of ADH in the nervous system and endocrine system, its regulation has also received increasing attention.

In summary, ADH is an important enzyme involved in key steps in alcohol and fatty acid metabolism. Studying the regulatory mechanism of ADH and exploring its potential as a drug target or biomarker are of great significance for the treatment of alcohol-related diseases. With the continuous advancement of technology, research on ADH will also provide people with more effective ways to understand and treat these diseases.

Protein Name: Alcohol Dehydrogenase Class 1

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