Alcohol metabolism

What enzyme catalyses the breakdown of alcohol?

Alcohol dehydrogenase

What is the first step in alcohol metabolism?

Ethanol + NAD+ ->Acetaldehyde + NADH + H+

What is the second step in alcohol metabolism?

Acetaldehyde + NAD+ ->Acetate + NADH + H+

What happens to acetate produced from alcohol metabolism?

Spontaneously degraded to water and CO2, or forms acetyl CoA (catalysed by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase)

How can acetate be converted to acetyl CoA?

Reacts with Coenzyme A and ATP, forming acetyl CoA + AMP +PPi

What molecule is required for gluconeogenesis and alcohol metabolism?

NAD+

How does alcohol metabolism inhibit gluconeogenesis?

Forms NADH, which prevents the production of pyruvate from other carbon sources as NADH levels are high and NAD+ levels are low

What ketone bodies can be produced from acetyl CoA?

Acetone and D-β-hydroxybutyrate

When is D-β-hydroxybutyrate production favoured over acetone production?

When NADH levels are high, as production converts NADH->NAD+

How does ethanol effect uric acid production?

Increases the production of uric acid

How does ethanol lead to an increase in uric acid production?

Production of Acetyl CoA from acetaldehyde required ATP, which then forms AMP.
AMP is then converted to uric acid

What enzyme catalyses the production of uric acid?

Xanthine oxidase