Alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase.

The enzymes mainly responsible for ethanol degradation in humans are liver alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDH). Polymorphisms occur in both enzymes, with marked differences in the steady-state kinetic constants. The Km-values for ethanol of ADH isoenzymes relevant for alcohol degradation range from 49 microM to 36 microM, and the Vmax-values from 0.6 to 10 U/mg. Expression of an inactive form of the ALDH2 isoenzyme, the so-called Oriental variant, results in impaired acetaldehyde metabolizing capacity. The differences in ethanol and acetaldehyde metabolizing activities of allelic enzyme forms may be responsible in part for the large variation in the alcohol metabolism rate in humans. Interindividual differences in the isoenzyme pattern may contribute to the genetically determined predisposition for excessive alcohol intake.