Dihydroxy-acid dehydratase

The enzyme dihydroxy-acid dehydratase catalyzes the chemical reaction


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

This enzyme participates in valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis and pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis.

Nomenclature
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,
 * α,β-dihydroxyacid dehydratase,
 * 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase,
 * α,β-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase,
 * dihydroxy acid dehydrase,
 * DHAD,
 * and 2,3-dihydroxy-acid hydro-lyase.