The aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) comprise a plurality of groups of enzymes , in the metabolism of many living beings aldehydes oxidize. ALDH are oxidoreductases . To date, nineteen ALDH - genes have been described in people who are largely specific for different substrates are. The ALDH sometimes show clear differences in their amino acid sequences , but can be classified into several groups (ALDH-1, -2 etc.). The individual ALDH are mainly found in the liver and are either cytosolic or mitochondrial .
List of ALDH in humans
The human aldehyde dehydrogenases are usually indispensable in the metabolism. Mutations and corresponding hereditary rare deficiency diseases are known of several enzymes .
In the metabolism of alcohol , the aldehyde dehydrogenases, especially ALDH2, play an essential role in the detoxification of metabolic products of ethanol . Ethanol is converted into the toxic acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) within the metabolism . ALDH oxidizes the acetaldehyde to the non-toxic acetate . A genetic polymorphism of ALDH-2 occurs in parts of the Asian population , which leads to a rapid surge of acetaldehyde after consumption of even small amounts of ethanol ( flush syndrome ).
These clinical symptoms are also used in the therapy of alcohol addicts. The administration of disulfiram (Antabuse) leads to an inhibition of ALDH-2, which leads to alcohol intolerance.
