Final answer:
The two enzymes in the liver capable of oxidizing alcohol are alcohol dehydrogenase, which converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which then detoxifies acetaldehyde to acetate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Two Enzymes in the Liver Capable of Oxidizing Alcohol
The two primary enzymes involved in oxidizing alcohol in the liver are alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The alcohol dehydrogenase system is responsible for the catalysis of ethanol to acetaldehyde, which is a toxic byproduct. Acetaldehyde is further processed by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, which converts it into the non-toxic molecule acetate. Additionally, the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS) plays a role in alcohol metabolism, particularly during heavy drinking, to help clear ethanol more rapidly from the body.
Alcohol dehydrogenase oxidizes ethanol in a zeroth-order reaction, meaning that the reaction rate is determined by the amount of enzyme present, and not by the ethanol concentration. The products of this reaction are acetaldehyde, NADH, and H+ ion. The subsequent reaction involves ALDH, which detoxifies the acetaldehyde into acetate.