The human pathway for metabolizing alcohol starts with theenzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the conversion ofethanol (C2H5OH) to acetaldehyde (CH3CHO). This is followed by thealdehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2, the enzyme of interest in thisproblem), which catalyzes the conversion of acetaldehyde and HS-CoAto acetyl-CoA (CH3CO–S–CoA). The TCA cycle starts and oxidizes theacetyl-CoA to CO2. Draw two diagrams of this pathway—one for anindividual without AFS and another for an individual with AFS. HowALDH2 deficiency combined with ethanol input into the bloodstreamcould culminate in the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood ofthe patient.
