formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Catalysis of the reaction: formaldehyde + H2O + NAD+ = formate + 2 H+ + NADH. [EC:1.2.1.46, RHEA:16425]

Formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity is a catalytic process that involves the oxidation of formaldehyde to formate. This reaction is typically carried out by enzymes known as formaldehyde dehydrogenases. These enzymes are typically NAD+-dependent, meaning they utilize nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) as an electron acceptor. The reaction mechanism typically involves the following steps:

1. **Formaldehyde binds to the enzyme's active site.** This binding often involves interactions with specific amino acid residues within the active site.
2. **The enzyme catalyzes the oxidation of formaldehyde.** This involves the transfer of two electrons from formaldehyde to NAD+, resulting in the formation of formate and NADH.
3. **The formate and NADH products are released from the enzyme.**

Formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity plays a crucial role in various metabolic pathways, including:

* **Methanol metabolism:** In the liver, formaldehyde dehydrogenase enzymes contribute to the detoxification of methanol, a toxic alcohol, by oxidizing it to formate.
* **One-carbon metabolism:** Formaldehyde is a key intermediate in one-carbon metabolism, which involves the transfer of single-carbon units in various metabolic pathways. Formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity helps regulate the levels of formaldehyde in these pathways.

Formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity is also implicated in various diseases, such as:

* **Cancer:** Some studies suggest that aberrant formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity may be linked to cancer development.
* **Neurological disorders:** Formaldehyde accumulation can be toxic to the nervous system, and dysregulation of formaldehyde dehydrogenase activity may contribute to neurological disorders.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (3)