MDR alcohol dehydrogenases:: Novel forms and possibilities

Alcohol dehydrogenase from a cartilaginous fish was characterized, establishing its class III nature, and reflecting the importance of subsequent gene duplications for the evolution of tetrapod life forms having class I and additional alcohol dehydrogenases. The enzyme from hamster testis was also characterized, establishing class I relationships of the major alcohol dehydrogenase in testis. Furthermore, a major alcohol dehydrogenase from pigeon liver was characterized, establishing a class VII relationship, and showing this alcohol dehydrogenase class to be of the variable type. Together, the different enzymes define distinct steps in the evolution of the separate classes of alcohol dehydrogenase. For future analyses, microfluidic steps are essential to increase sensitivity and analytical speed. Two such platforms are highlighted, one allowing specific, small-scale detection of phosphopeptides, the other making it possible to trace dehydrogenase reactions with electrocapture technology.