Final answer:
Ethanol is metabolized through alcoholic fermentation and the subsequent oxidation of acetaldehyde. In alcoholic fermentation, glucose is converted to pyruvate and then to acetaldehyde, which is reduced to ethanol. Acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetate in the liver.
Step-by-step explanation:
The metabolism of ethanol involves two main steps:
- Alcoholic fermentation: In this step, glucose is converted to pyruvate through glycolysis. Then, pyruvate loses a carbon dioxide molecule and is converted to acetaldehyde. Finally, acetaldehyde is reduced to ethanol, and NAD+ is oxidized back to NADH to allow the process to continue.
- Oxidation of ethanol: Acetaldehyde is further oxidized to acetate through the action of the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Acetate is then converted to acetyl-CoA and enters the citric acid cycle.