Electrons are transferred from NADPH to cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) by cytochrome P450 reductase. A) The CYP2E1 then catalyzes the oxidation of the substrate molecule (ethane) by adding one atom of oxygen to the substrate, producing ethanol; the other atom is reduced to water. B) The CYP2E1- catalyzed metabolism of alcohol produces an unstable intermediate (i.e., a gem-diol) that will decompose to produce acetaldehyde.

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Prepared: December 2008