Opposing--activating or inhibitory--effects of cimetidine and daidzein on human ADH1C activity depending on substrates and solvents.

Toxification of benzylic alcohols (e.g. hydroxymethylpyrenes) by sulfotransferases is efficiently competed by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs).

Effect of pentachlorophenol and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol on the activity of cDNA-expressed human alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases.

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol (DCNP), potent inhibitors of phenol sulphotransferases, are frequently used in animal studies to elucidate the role of these enzymes in the biotransformation and toxicity of xenobiotics. An unexpected finding with 1-hydroxymethylpyrene--a strong decrease in the excretion of the corresponding carboxylic acid in rats concurrently treated with PCP-led us to suspect that this sulphotransferase inhibitor may also affect alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) and/or aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs). Subsequently we investigated the influence of PCP and DCNP on the activity of cDNA-expressed human ADHs and ALDHs.

Detoxification of promutagenic aldehydes derived from methylpyrenes by human aldehyde dehydrogenases ALDH2 and ALDH3A1.

Methylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be metabolically activated via benzylic hydroxylation and sulpho conjugation to reactive esters, which can induce mutations and tumours. Yet, further oxidation of the alcohol may compete with this toxification. We previously demonstrated that several human alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH1C, 2, 3 and 4) oxidise various benzylic alcohols (derived from alkylated pyrenes) to their aldehydes with high catalytic efficiency.

Oxidation of alcohols and reduction of aldehydes derived from methyl- and dimethylpyrenes by cDNA-expressed human alcohol dehydrogenases.

Some methylated pyrenes can form DNA adducts in rat tissues after benzylic hydroxylation and sulpho conjugation. However, oxidation of the intermediate alcohols to carboxylic acids is an important competing pathway leading to detoxification. We previously showed that co-administration of ethanol or 4-methylpyrazole strongly enhances DNA adduct formation by 1-hydroxymethylpyrene, indicating an involvement of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) in the detoxification.

Efficient oxidation of promutagenic hydroxymethylpyrenes by cDNA-expressed human alcohol dehydrogenase ADH2 and its inhibition by various agents.

Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can be metabolically activated via benzylic hydroxylation and sulphation to electrophilically reactive esters. However, we previously found that the predominant biotransformation route for the hepatocarcinogen 1-hydroxymethylpyrene (1-HMP) in the rat in vivo is the oxidation of the side chain by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) and aldehyde dehydrogenases to the carboxylic acid. Inhibition of this pathway by ethanol (competing ADH substrate) or 4-methylpyrazole (ADH inhibitor) led to a dramatic increase in the 1-HMP-induced DNA adduct formation in rat tissues in the preceding study.