Dihydroxy-acid dehydratase

In enzymology, a dihydroxy-acid dehydratase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate + H2O

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate, and two products, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate and H2O.

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the hydro-lyases, which cleave carbon-oxygen bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate hydro-lyase (3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate-forming). Other names in common use include acetohydroxyacid dehydratase, alpha,beta-dihydroxyacid dehydratase, 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase, alpha,beta-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase, dihydroxy acid dehydrase, DHAD, and 2,3-dihydroxy-acid hydro-lyase. This enzyme participates in valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis and pantothenate and coa biosynthesis.