Inactivation of coenzyme a by ethanol. I. Acetaldehyde as mediator of the inactivation of coenzyme A following the administration of ethanol in vivo

Ethanol inactivates coenzyme A in liver and brain of white mice in vivo. In order to determine whether this effect is caused by ethanol itself or by acetaldehyde its metabolite the influence of ethanol and acetaldehyde on brain and liver was studied in vitro. Acetaldehyde lowered coenzyme A activity in homogenates of brain and liver. The concentrations required were 0.1–1.6 mM for brain and 1–32 mM for liver. On the other hand ethanol (20–360 mM) inactivated coenzyme A only in liver but not in brain homogenates. Since brain tissue is not able to oxidize ethanol in measurable quantities and, therefore, acetaldehyde is formed only in liver homogenates it is concluded that the action of ethanol on coenzyme A is mediated by acetaldehyde.