A three-dimensional model of the human class IV alcohol dehydrogenase has been calculated based upon the X-ray structure of the class I enzyme. As judged from the model, the substrate-binding site is wider than in class I, compatible with the differences in substrate specificities and the large difference in K m value for ethanol. Substrate docking performed for the class I structure and the class IV model show all-trans-retinol and 11-cis-retinol to bind better to the class IV enzyme. The calculations also indicate that 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid binds in a different manner for the two enzyme classes. A simulation of coenzyme-binding indicates that the adenine ring of the coenzyme might be differently bound in class IV than in class I, decreasing the interactions with Asp-223 which is compatible with the higher k cat values for class IV.
