Methanol is highly toxic, not because of its own biological activity but because
ID: 1051247 • Letter: M
Question
Methanol is highly toxic, not because of its own biological activity but because it is converted metabolically to formaldehyde, through action of alcohol dehydrogenase. Part of the medical treatment for methanol poisoning involves administration of large doses of ethanol. Explain why this treatment is effective. Match the words to the appropriate blanks in the sentences.
CHOICES: acetate, acetaldehyde, NADH, NAD+, reduce, formaldehyde, oxidize, formate, methanol
Ethanol will generate ______ through the action of alcohol dehydrogenase, and this will ________ formaldehyde back to _________ , also through alcohol dehydrogenase. The ________ formed can be metabolized further to acetate. Ethanol may also compete with methanol for binding to alcohol dehydrogenase.
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Explanation / Answer
Ethanol will generate acetaldehyde through the action of alcohol dehydrogenase, and this will reduce formaldehyde back to methanol , also through alcohol dehydrogenase. The acetaldehyde formed can be metabolized further to acetate. Ethanol may also compete with methanol for binding to alcohol dehydrogenase.