Alcohol dehydrogenase mostly active on ethanol (EtOH), but exhibits broad substrates selectivity for primary and secondary alcohols (e.g. butanol, propyl alcohol, pentanol, isopentanol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, methanol and tertiary butyl alcohol) (PubMed:23707506). Converts allyl alcohol to highly toxic acryl-aldehyde (PubMed:20508152). Required for survival and acclimation in hypoxic conditions, especially in roots (PubMed:12857811, PubMed:9880346). a primary alcohol + NAD(+) = an aldehyde + H(+) + NADH a secondary alcohol + NAD(+) = a ketone + H(+) + NADH Binds 2 Zn(2+) ions per subunit. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity show inverse correlation with the decreasing availability of oxygen. kcat is 328 min(-1) with NAD(+) as substrate (at pH 10.5 and 25 degrees Celsius). Optimum pH is 10.5 (at 25 degrees Celsius). Homodimer. Root specific (PubMed:9611167). Also detected in etiolated seedlings and leaves in cold conditons (PubMed:12231733). Transactivated by MYB2 in response to various stresses (PubMed:9611167). By 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (synthetic auxin) in Arabidopsis as well as in maize (PubMed:2937058). Induced mostly in roots and shoot apex by hypoxia during water submergence or oxygen deprivation, in a MYB2-dependent manner, and partly via an ethylene-mediated pathway (PubMed:9522467, PubMed:9611167, PubMed:11402202, PubMed:12509334, PubMed:26566261, PubMed:11987307, PubMed:8787023). Accumulates in response to hydrogen peroxide H(2)O(2) during the early stages of hypoxia signaling (PubMed:24395201, PubMed:18441225). Decreased levels upon combined hypoxia and diphenylene iodonium chloride (DPI, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor) treatments (PubMed:24395201). Induced by abscisic acid (ABA), dehydration, estradiol, salt (NaCl), cold and sucrose treatments (PubMed:12231733, PubMed:18441225, PubMed:11987307, PubMed:9611167, PubMed:8787023). The induction by dehydration is ABA-dependent (PubMed:8787023). Observed in etiolated seedlings and leaves upon exposure to low temperature, probably via anaerobic metabolism and increase of ABA levels (PubMed:12231733). Strongly induced by caffeine (PubMed:12509334). May accumulate in roots during spaceflight, probably due to local hypoxia conditions (PubMed:11402191). Glutathionylated. Loss of alcohol dehydrogenase activity (PubMed:3377754, PubMed:12509334). Increased resistance to allyl alcohol (PubMed:20508152). Decreased survival, associated with impaired lateral roots development, upon oxygen deprivation leading to hypoxic conditions (PubMed:12509334, PubMed:12857811). Impaired root acclimation to hypoxic stress (PubMed:9880346). Unlike most plants, Arabidopsis contains only one gene for ADH. Belongs to the zinc-containing alcohol dehydrogenase family. Class-P subfamily.