Aldh3A1 is a member of the aldehyde dehydrogenase superfamily, a group of NAD(P)(+)-dependent enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of a wide spectrum of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes. Aldh3A1 is highly expressed in stomach and even more strongly in cornea, representing between 5 to 50% of the water soluble protein fraction in mammalian corneas. It is thought that Aldh3A1 acts to protect the cornea from UV-induced oxidative stress by not only detoxification of reactive aldehydes by also through the direct absorbtion of UV energy. However, corneas from Aldh3A1-null mice are indistinguishable from those from wild-type mice; mice lacking both Aldh3A1 and Aldh1A1 showed increased cataract formation following UVB exposure, suggesting that Aldh1A1 may be able to compensate for the loss of Aldh3A1.
