As we discussed in class, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) will oxidize several alcoh

Question

As we discussed in class, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) will oxidize several alcohols. We also discussed when methanol is the substrate for ADH that the toxic compound formaldehyde is produced, and that ethanol can be used as a competitive inhibitor to prevent this problem. Assume a dog has accidently consumed 50 mL of windshield washer fluid (50% methanol), the owners knows that unless he corrects for this soon the dog will be in trouble. The owner has several bottles of wine that he recently purchased for a party (12 % ethanol). How much wine does the dog need to consume to reduce the activity of ADH for methanol to 5% of its normal Km?

ADH-ethanol Km = 1mM

ADH-methanol Km = 10mM

Assume the “working volume” of the dog is 15L

Assume the densities of both liquids are 0.9 g/mL

Enzyme Kinetics of Biochemistry!

Explanation / Answer

The given solution of methanol is 50% ( 50 ml)

let us convert the percentage to moles

= 50 ml x (50/100) x density (g/ml)

= 50 x 50/100 x 0.9 = 22.5 g

No. of moles of methanol = 22.5g/32.04 = 0.702247 mole.

                                                                  = 702. 247 mM

We know that ADH-methanol Km = 10mM

5% of its normal Km = 10 *5/100 = 0.5 mM

Hence 702.247-0.5 = 701.747 mM of methanol should reduce = required ethanol

The owner had 12% ethanol

let us calculate no. of moles per liter 1000 ml x 12 /100 x 0.9 g/ml = 108 M = 108000 mM of ethanol present in 1000 ml, That means 108000/1000 = 108 mM per ml

required ethanol = 701.747 mM

Hence required volume of wine = 701.747 x 1/108 ml = 6.49 ml

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