ALDH3B1 is duplicated in both cow and zebra finch. The cow ALDH3B4-encoded protein would be full length and share 85.4 per cent identity to ALDH3B1, suggesting that it is a new ALDH3B family member. Zebra finch ALDH3B5 shares an extremely high degree of homology with the amino-terminus of ALDH3B1. However, it lacks ~150 AAs that comprise the carboxy-terminus needed for enzyme oligomerisation. The truncated protein would still contain the conserved motifs required for ALDH activity. Until more experimental evidence becomes available, the ALDH3B5 gene should be considered as putatively functional.
