Aldehyde dehydrogenase

The aldehyde dehydrogenases ( ALDH ) comprise a plurality of groups of enzymes which oxidize aldehydes in the metabolism of many organisms. ALDH are oxidoreductases. ALDH been eighteen genes have been described in man, which are mostly specific to various substrates. The ALDH show some significant differences in their amino acid sequences, but can be classified into several groups ( ALDH -1, -2, etc.). The individual ALDH occur mainly in the liver and are either cytosolic or mitochondrial localized.

List of ALDH in the human

The aldehyde dehydrogenases of people are usually essential in metabolism. Several enzymes and mutations according rare hereditary deficiency diseases are known.

Alcohol metabolism

In the metabolism of alcohol play the aldehyde dehydrogenases, especially ALDH2, an essential role in the detoxification of metabolic products of ethanol. Ethanol is converted into the toxic acetaldehyde in the metabolism of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH). By ALDH, there is an oxidation of acetaldehyde to acetate, non-toxic. In parts of the Asian population occurs on a genetic polymorphism of ALDH - 2, which leads to a rapid rise in level of acetaldehyde after consumption of small amounts of ethanol already (flushing syndrome).

This clinical symptoms is also seized in the treatment of alcohol dependence. Through the gift of disulfiram ( Antabuse ), there is an inhibition of ALDH -2, which is an alcohol intolerance is generated.