Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) antibodies are immunological tools designed to detect and study ADH enzymes, a family of NAD⁺-dependent enzymes critical in metabolizing ethanol, retinols, and other alcohols. ADH exists in multiple isoforms (e.g., ADH1A, ADH1B, ADH1C) encoded by distinct genes, with tissue-specific expression patterns. Class I ADH isoforms (ADH1A-C) are primarily expressed in the liver and gastrointestinal tract, playing a central role in ethanol oxidation, while other classes participate in retinoid metabolism or steroid homeostasis.
ADH antibodies, typically raised in rabbits, mice, or goats, are generated using purified ADH proteins or synthetic peptides as immunogens. These antibodies enable researchers to quantify ADH expression via techniques like Western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), or ELISA, and to study its localization in tissues. Their applications span alcohol metabolism research, liver disease studies (e.g., cirrhosis, hepatitis), and investigations into cancer progression, as altered ADH expression is linked to tumorigenesis in certain cancers.
Specificity validation is critical, as ADH isoforms share structural homology. High-quality antibodies distinguish between isoforms, aiding research on genetic polymorphisms (e.g., ADH1B*2 variant associated with reduced alcohol dependence risk). Additionally, ADH antibodies are used in toxicology to assess ethanol-induced organ damage and in pharmacogenomics to explore interindividual variability in drug/alcohol responses. Proper controls, including knockout tissues or competitive peptides, ensure antibody reliability in experimental models.