Analysis of the aldh2 gene duplications in zebrafish indicates that these represent protein-coding genes and not pseudogenes. As mentioned above, translation of either gene would result in a full-length peptide. The aldh2.2 gene would encode a product 95.2 per cent identical to that of the parent gene aldh2.1. At 95.2 per cent AA identity, aldh2.2 represents a new gene. The aldh2.3 homologue may represent a more evolutionarily recent duplication of aldh2.2, as evidenced by the ~99.6 per cent sequence identity noted. Therefore, aldh2.3 is likely to be a gene-duplication event of aldh2.2. All three protein products include the conserved ALDH motifs and residues required for enzyme activity.
