Consider the following question about methanol in the human body. a) In the huma
ID: 1070077 • Letter: C
Question
Consider the following question about methanol in the human body. a) In the human body, methanol interacts with an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. What chemical transformation do you expect alcohol dehydrogenase to perform? (consider the name... hint, and NADH/H' is produced as a result of this reaction) b) Draw the product of the reaction between methanol and alcohol dehydrogenase. e) What 15 the problem with having the product you drew in question b) in the human body? d) What is the treatment for excess exposure to methanol? Explain in detail why this treatment works.Explanation / Answer
1 and 2.
Alcohol dehydrogenase is an enzymes which catalyse the reversible oxidation of primary or secondary alcohols to aldehydes or ketones respectively. its main function in the bodyis to catalyse the oxidation of ethanol to acetaldehyde as the first step of ethanol metabolism. This process in the liver, uses NAD+ or NADP+ as electron acceptors.
the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase oxidizes methanol to formaldehyde, CH2O.
3. formaldehyde is a potent poison. Aside from ALS risk or other nervous system consequences, formaldehyde is a respiratory irritant that causes chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing, and nose and throat irritation. It can also cause cancer, and has been linked to an increased risk of asthma and allergies in kids
4..treatment of methanol poisoning is to give the patient ethanol, CH3CH2OH.