Molecular Mechanism of Ethanol Metabolism by Human Brain to Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters

Abstract
Ethanol metabolism in the human brain has been documented to occur with the formation of fatty acid ethyl esters. These neutral lipids can disorder membranes and interrupt mitochondrial function. Their formation is under the control of three synthases, localized to grey matter and purified to homogeneity. cDNA cloning demonstrates two of these enzymes to be GSH S-transferases and has enabled initiation of genetic studies of alcohol-induced CNS injury.