Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Simultaneous Measurement of Superoxide/Hydrogen Peroxide and NADH Production by Flavin-containing Mitochondrial Dehydrogenases
Published on: February 24, 2018
Contrary to consensus, oxidation of ethanol by human alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) 1A is activated by ATP
Igor Khmelinskii1, Vladimir I Makarov2
1Universidade do Algarve, FCT, DQB and CEOT, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal.
Abstract:
Presently we report that enzymatic oxidation of ethanol (EtOH) by ADH1A alcohol dehydrogenase is strongly accelerated in presence of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), by up to the factor of 20 in vitro. This result provides a different look on the role of ATP in functioning of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH), which until presently were a textbook example of enzymes not requiring ATP and successfully operating without it. However, ATP is available in every living cell and will activate reactions conducted by ADH enzymes in vivo. Therefore, the body of published literature describing properties of numerous ADH enzymes requires a thorough revision.
Related Concept Videos
Pyruvate Oxidation
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
Fermentation
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox...
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes

