Alcoholics may develop fatal lactic acidosis due to inhibition of which of the following enzyme?
Pyruvate dehydrogenase
Dihydrolipoyl transacetylase
Dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase
Phosphoglycerate kinase
Pyruvate is decarboxylated by the pyruvate dehydrogenase component of the enzyme complex to a hydroxyethyl derivative of the thiazole ring of enzyme-bound thiamin diphosphate. Arsenite and mercuric ions react with the 'SH groups of lipoic acid and inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase, as does a dietary deficiency of thiamin allowingpyruvate to accumulate. Many alcoholics are thiamin deficient (both because of a poor diet and also because alcohol inhibits thiamin absorption), and may develop potentially fatal pyruvic and lactic acidosis.Ref: Harper&;s Biochemistry; 30th edition; Chapter 17; Glycolysis & the Oxidation of Pyruvate
General anatomy