Biochemistry of bacterial alcohol dehydrogenases

Abstract

      Alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) catalyze the oxidative and reductive conversion of alcohols and aldehydes or ketones. They can be divided into three major categories; The NAD(P)⁺ - dependent alcohol dehydrogenases, NAD(P)⁺ - independent alcohol dehydrogenases and FAD - dependent alcohol oxidases. There are several varieties of alcohol dehydrogenases found in bacteria each of which may exist in several variants, e.g., molecular properties, catalytic properties, localization as well as gene expression and regulation. This article describes the basic knowledge of biochemistry that is related to bacterial alcohol dehydrogenases, especially in oxidation of alcohols.