How Do You Spell ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE?

1. Alcohol dehydrogenase refers to a group of enzymes that play a crucial role in the metabolism of alcohol. Specifically, it is an enzyme responsible for the oxidative metabolism of alcohols, converting them into aldehydes or ketones while simultaneously producing a molecule of NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) from NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide). Alcohol dehydrogenase is found in various organisms, including bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals, including humans.

   The primary function of alcohol dehydrogenase is to catalyze the oxidation of alcohols, such as ethanol, methanol, and other primary or secondary alcohols, to form their corresponding aldehydes or ketones through a redox reaction. This enzymatic process involves the transfer of a hydrogen atom from the alcohol to the coenzyme NAD+, which results in the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. As a consequence, alcohol dehydrogenase is involved in the regulation of alcohol metabolism, and its activity is often used as a biomarker in the determination of blood alcohol levels.

   The presence of alcohol dehydrogenase in the human liver and stomach contributes to the metabolism of alcohol, aiding in breaking down ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that is further converted into acetate and subsequently metabolized into carbon dioxide and water. Consequently, alcohol dehydrogenase is an essential enzyme in the detoxification process of ethanol, facilitating its clearance from the bloodstream and body.

Common Misspellings for ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE

The word "Alcohol Dehydrogenase" has a Latin and Greek origin.

1. "Alcohol":

The word "alcohol" is derived from the Arabic term "al-kuhul", which refers to a fine powdered antimony used as eyeliner. It later evolved to denote any supernatural, intoxicating substance and eventually came to represent the substance we currently associate with alcoholic beverages.

2. "Dehydrogenase":

The word "dehydrogenase" consists of two parts: "de-" and "hydrogenase".

- "De-" is a prefix derived from the Latin word "de", meaning "to remove" or "away from".

-drogenase" is derived from the Greek word "hydōr", meaning "water" and the suffix "-genēs", meaning "born of". In this context, "-genēs" refers to an enzyme.