alcohol dehydrogenase
C1/C2Formal, Scientific, Technical
Definition
Meaning
An enzyme that catalyses the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones.
A crucial enzyme in the metabolic pathways of many organisms, most notably in the human liver for breaking down ethanol into acetaldehyde.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound noun combining two scientific terms. It names a specific, defined class of enzymes. Plural: alcohol dehydrogenases. It is a hypernym; specific types include 'liver alcohol dehydrogenase' or 'yeast alcohol dehydrogenase'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Pronunciation follows respective accent rules for the component words.
Connotations
Identical technical/scientific connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Frequency is identical and confined to scientific/medical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Alcohol dehydrogenase [VERB]... (e.g., converts, catalyses, oxidises)[SUBJECT] contains/is rich in/lacks alcohol dehydrogenase.The [MODIFIER] alcohol dehydrogenase...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in biotech/pharmaceutical R&D contexts.
Academic
Common in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, and medical research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
The primary register. Used precisely in lab reports, clinical studies, and scientific discussions on metabolism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The alcohol dehydrogenase pathway is critical.
- They studied alcohol dehydrogenase kinetics.
American English
- The alcohol dehydrogenase pathway is critical.
- They studied alcohol dehydrogenase kinetics.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Some people have a less active form of alcohol dehydrogenase, which affects how they process alcohol.
- The doctor explained that alcohol dehydrogenase starts breaking down alcohol in the stomach.
- The research focused on the zinc ion located in the catalytic centre of human liver alcohol dehydrogenase.
- A polymorphism in the gene encoding alcohol dehydrogenase 1B significantly influences individual tolerance to ethanol.
- The kinetics of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase were analysed using a spectrophotometric assay.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Alcohol De-Hydro-Gen-ase' – it DEals with removing HYDROGEN from ALCOHOL, and it's an enzyme (-ase).
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROCESSING WORKER / CHEMICAL GATEKEEPER: The enzyme is conceptualised as a specific worker on an assembly line (the metabolic pathway) that handles the first step in processing alcohol.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation of 'dehydrogenase' as 'дегидрогеназа' is the direct equivalent and correct. Ensure the word order is maintained as a compound noun.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'dehydragenase' or 'dehydrogenise'.
- Using it as a countable noun without pluralising when referring to multiple types (e.g., 'Several alcohol dehydrogenases exist.').
- Confusing it with aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), the next enzyme in the pathway.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary biological role of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. They are two different enzymes in the alcohol metabolism pathway. ADH converts alcohol (ethanol) to aldehyde (acetaldehyde). Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) then converts the toxic acetaldehyde to acetate.
Genetic variations (polymorphisms) in the genes for alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase lead to enzymes with different activity levels, affecting how quickly alcohol and its toxic by-product acetaldehyde are processed.
Primarily in the liver, but also in the lining of the stomach and, to a lesser extent, in other tissues.
Yes, the standard abbreviation in scientific literature is ADH. Specific isozymes are numbered (e.g., ADH1, ADH4).