Inhibition of the peroxidatic activity of catalase towards alcohols by the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor cyanamide

Recent results have suggested that catalase is responsible for activating cyanamide to a metabolite which is a potent inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase. In the present report, cyanamide was shown to inhibit the peroxidatic activity of catalase with alcohols such as ethanol or methanol. Inhibition by cyanamide required a brief incubation period with catalase. Ethanol prevented this inhibition of catalase if added before or at the same time as cyanamide, suggesting that ethanol may protect against the activation of cyanamide by catalase.