(Alcohol Dehydrogenase 5 (Class III), chi Polypeptide (ADH5))
This gene encodes a member of the alcohol dehydrogenase family. Members of this family metabolize a wide variety of substrates, including ethanol, retinol, other aliphatic alcohols, hydroxysteroids, and lipid peroxidation products. The encoded protein forms a homodimer. It has virtually no activity for ethanol oxidation, but exhibits high activity for oxidation of long-chain primary alcohols and for oxidation of S-hydroxymethyl-glutathione, a spontaneous adduct between formaldehyde and glutathione. This enzyme is an important component of cellular metabolism for the elimination of formaldehyde, a potent irritant and sensitizing agent that causes lacrymation, rhinitis, pharyngitis, and contact dermatitis. The human genome contains several non-transcribed pseudogenes related to this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2008].
Adinolfi, Adinolfi, Hopkinson: "Immunological and biochemical characterization of the human alcohol dehydrogenase chi-ADH isozyme." in: Annals of human genetics, Vol. 48, Issue Pt 1, pp. 1-10, (1984) (PubMed).