Alcohol metabolism pathway (null)

The "Alcohol metabolism pathway" is not a molecular target such as a single enzyme, receptor, transporter, or gene, but refers to a complex biochemical pathway comprising several enzymes that are responsible for the metabolic processing of ethanol (alcohol) in the human body. The primary enzymes involved are alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which oxidizes ethanol to acetaldehyde; aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, especially ALDH2), which further oxidizes acetaldehyde to acetate; and, at high alcohol concentrations, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), which also converts ethanol to acetaldehyde. Minor contributions come from catalase and other less characterized routes. This pathway is of clinical interest due to its role in alcohol-related disorders, variation in risk based on genetic differences (notably ALDH2 polymorphisms), and as a target for drugs like disulfiram (an ALDH inhibitor) for alcohol use disorder. However, as a pathway, it is not a single druggable entity or receptor and therefore is not an individual therapeutic target, though its components are[1][2][3][4][7].

Other names

Alcohol metabolic pathwayEthanol metabolismAlcohol degradation pathway

Drugs do not target the Alcohol metabolism pathway as a whole, but rather individual enzymatic components within it. For example, disulfiram inhibits aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) to reduce acetaldehyde breakdown, leading to adverse effects and deterring alcohol consumption.