Aldehyde dehydrogenase

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (1.2.1.3) are a group of enzymes that catalyse the oxidation of aldehydes. They convert aldehydes (R–C(=O)–H) to carboxylic acids (R–C(=O)–O–H). The oxygen comes from a water molecule. To date, nineteen ALDH genes have been identified within the human genome. These genes participate in a wide variety of biological processes including the detoxification of exogenously and endogenously generated aldehydes.