Question

Describe a way to determine the rate of the alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed oxidation of ethanol by ${\mathbf{NAD}}^{+}$.

Short answer

The reduction of pyruvate to lactate takes place by NADH in the presence of enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. NADH is a species that absorb light at 340 nm. The rate of this reaction is determined by checking the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm.

Step-by-step solution

Step-by-step-solutionStep1: Uses of UV-Vis/spectroscopy

The reduction of pyruvate to lactate takes place by NADH in the presence of enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. NADH is a species that absorb light at 340 nm. The rate of this reaction is determined by checking the decrease in absorbance at 340 nm.

Rate of the alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed oxidiation of ethanol by NAD+   

The alcohol dehydrogenase catalyzed oxidation produces NADH as the product. Ut absorbs light at 340 nm. Hence, the reaction rate can be determined by monitoring the increase in absorbance at 340 nm as a function of time.

Oxidation of ethanol by${\mathrm{NAD}}^{+}$