[The participation of dehydrogenases in retinol metabolism].

Retinoids are essential in cell growth and development as well as for maintenance of normal function of epithelia and vision. The metabolism of retinol is regulated by a few group of enzymes that control conversion of retinol to active retinoid aldehydes and retinoic acid. The enzymes involved in the first step of retinol metabolism belong to the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and short-chain dehydrogenase (reductase) (SDR), which catalyze oxidation of retinol to retinaldehyde. The main izoenzymes of ADH that have been proposed to participate in this reaction are ADH I and IV. The next step in metabolism of retinol is conversion of retinaldehyde to retinoic acid by acting of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).