Alcohol Dehydrogenase 4 (ADH4)

Alcohol dehydrogenase 4 is an class II alcohol dehydrogenase 4 pi subunit, which is a member of the alcohol dehydrogenase family. It exhibits a high activity for oxidation of long-chain aliphatic alcohols and aromatic alcohols and is less sensitive to pyrazole. This gene is localized to chromosome 4 in the cluster of alcohol dehydrogenase genes.Variability from person to person was found, suggesting genetic variability. At intoxicating levels of alcohol, this enzyme may account for as much as 40% of the total ethanol oxidation rate. Unlike the other alcohol dehydrogenases, this type is not inhibited by pyrazole; hence, its name. It differs immunologically from other alcohol dehydrogenases and also has different substrate specificities; e.g., ethylene glycol is digested by other alcohol dehydrogenases but not by the Pi form.