HIBADH is a 336 amino acid mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the NAD+-dependent, reversible oxidization of 3-Hydroxyisobutyrate to methylmalonate semialdehyde, an intermediate of valine catabolism. The enzyme functions as a homodimer between a pH of 7.0 and 10.0, with optimal activity between 8.8 and 9.0. It was previously hypothesized that defects in the gene encoding HIBADH may be the cause of 3-Hydroxyisobutyric aciduria, a rare disorder that is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations such as neurodevelopmental problems and dysmorphic features. However, it was shown that HIBADH activity was equal in patients with 3-Hydroxyisobutyric aciduria as compared with controls.
