ScholarLens Back to search
2015•ACS symposium seriesRequires access

The Role of Disulfiram in Alcohol Metabolism and the Treatment of Alcoholism

Sharmaine S. Robinson

Open publisher page 6 citations

Abstract

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the two major enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ethanol. ADH converts ethanol to acetaldehyde and ALDH converts acetaldehyde to acetate. Disulfiram is an irreversible inhibitor of ALDH. The increase in serum aldehyde concentrations when alcohol is consumed in the presence of disulfiram produces acute, unpleasant symptoms known as the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. The mechanism of inhibition is believed to involve a disulfiram metabolite-cysteine adduct in the active pocket of ALDH.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the two major enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ethanol. ADH converts ethanol to acetaldehyde and ALDH converts acetaldehyde to acetate. Disulfiram is an irreversible inhibitor of ALDH. The increase in serum aldehyde concentrations when alcohol is consumed in the presence of disulfiram produces acute, unpleasant symptoms known as the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. The mechanism of inhibition is believed to involve a disulfiram metabolite-cysteine adduct in the active pocket of ALDH.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 6 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) are the two major enzymes responsible for the metabolism of ethanol. ADH converts ethanol to acetaldehyde and ALDH converts acetaldehyde to acetate. Disulfiram is an irreversible inhibitor of ALDH. The increase in serum aldehyde concentrations when alcohol is consumed in the presence of disulfiram produces acute, unpleasant symptoms known as the disulfiram-alcohol reaction. The mechanism of inhibition is believed to involve a disulfiram metabolite-cysteine adduct in the active pocket of ALDH.

Key concepts: Disulfiram, Aldehyde dehydrogenase, Acetaldehyde, Ethanol, Alcohol, Ethanol metabolism, Alcohol dehydrogenase, Chemistry

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
The Role of Disulfiram in Alcohol Metabolism and the Treatment of Alcoholism — Research Paper | ScholarLens