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Re: Can you really not drink alcohol or what?

Posted by Larry Hoover on November 16, 2002, at 8:53:32

In reply to Re: Can you really not drink alcohol or what?, posted by cybercafe on November 15, 2002, at 20:44:58

> hmmm.. fascinating! .. but i thought there were enzymes that were shared between all substances, like ALT, AST alkaline phosphatase etc etc

ALT and AST are very substrate-specific.

AST (Aspartate aminotransferase)

ALT (Alanine aminotransferase)

-one of the thousands kinds of liver enzymes, and a kind of transferase.

-having the function of transfering amino group of amino acids from alpha-amino acids to alpha-keto acids, therefore, named transaminase.

L-Aspartic Acid + Ketoglutaric Acid = Oxaloacetic Acid + L-Glutaric Acid

L-Alanine + Ketoglutaric = Pyruvic Acid + Glutaric Acid

These enzymes are found in high concentration throughout the liver, so elevation in blood levels of both of these enzymes simultaneously is presumptive evidence of liver cell death.

Many of the liver enzymes are dedicated to 'workhorse' functions needed for the body's basic biochemical processes. Others seem to be dedicated to the detoxifaction and directing to excretion of ingested non-nutritive substances.

Many drugs can be acted upon by more than one liver enzyme, based on molecular structure (enzymes are always structure-specific). Therefore, multiple metabolites are produced. Each of these may have physiological activity independent of the parent drug. For example, oxazepam is a major metabolite of diazepam, which therefore adds to the physiological effect of the diazepam. In turn, temazepam is a major metabolite of oxazepam.

You can see how things quickly become exceedingly complex, making stock generalizations inappropriate.

 

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poster:Larry Hoover thread:127809
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/127903.html