Question

What effect does an increased NADH/NAD+ ratio have on alcohol metabolism?

A) Inhibition of Alcohol Dehydrogenase: An increased NADH/NAD+ ratio inhibits the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, slowing down the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde.

B) Stimulation of Alcohol Dehydrogenase: An increased NADH/NAD+ ratio stimulates the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase, accelerating the conversion of ethanol to acetaldehyde.

C) No Effect: The NADH/NAD+ ratio does not impact the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase in alcohol metabolism.

D) Inhibition of Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase: An increased NADH/NAD+ ratio inhibits the activity of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, slowing down the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate.

Answer 1

An increased NADH/NAD+ ratio inhibits acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, howing down the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate and can lead to acetaldehyde accumulation in the liver.

Step-by-step explanation:

An increased NADH/NAD+ ratio has a significant effect on alcohol metabolism. Specifically, it leads to the inhibition of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which is responsible for converting acetaldehyde to acetate, a non-toxic molecule. When the ratio is increased, the high levels of NADH discourage the oxidation of acetaldehyde into acetate because the process requires the oxidized form of the coenzyme, NAD+. As a result, this inhibition slows down the conversion of acetaldehyde to acetate, causing an accumulation of acetaldehyde in the liver, which can contribute to the toxic effects associated with alcohol consumption.