What's the final enzyme in alcohol metabolism?

What enzyme finishes ethanol metabolism?

The final enzyme in the main pathway of alcohol metabolism is aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). It converts the intermediate acetaldehyde into acetate (a step that completes the breakdown of ethanol in the liver’s primary metabolic route). [1]

Quick pathway: ethanol to acetate

Ethanol is processed step-by-step:
- Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH): ethanol → acetaldehyde
- Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH): acetaldehyde → acetate (final step of this major pathway) [1]

Does anything else happen after acetate?

After acetate is formed, it can be further metabolized by other enzymes (for example, into acetyl-CoA), but that is beyond the “alcohol metabolism” sequence that breaks down ethanol to acetate. [1]

Sources

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_dehydrogenase