title: Gastrointestinal alcohol dehydrogenase.
abstract: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) consists of a family of isozymes that convert alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes using NAD+ as a cofactor. The metabolism of ethanol by gastrointestinal ADH isozymes results in the production of acetaldehyde, a highly toxic compound that binds to cellular protein and DNA if not further metabolized to acetate by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes. Acetaldehyde seems to be involved in ethanol-associated cocarcinogenesis. The metabolism of retinol and the generation of retinoic acid is a function of class I and class IV ADH, and its inhibition by alcohol may lead to an alteration of epithelial cell differentiation and cell growth and may also be involved in ethanol-associated gastrointestinal cocarcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Salem Medical Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Oneta
mesh_terms: D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D007527:Isoenzymes; D009243:NAD; D000431:Ethanol; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D000079:Acetaldehyde