HADHA

Trifunctional enzyme subunit alpha, mitochondrial also known as hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase/enoyl-CoA hydratase (trifunctional protein), alpha subunit is a is_associated_with::protein that in humans is encoded by the HADHA is_associated_with::gene.

Structure
HADHA is a 82.9 kDa protein composed of 763 amino acids.

The is_associated_with::mitochondrial membrane-bound heterocomplex is composed of four alpha and four beta subunits, with the alpha subunit catalyzing the is_associated_with::3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and is_associated_with::enoyl-CoA hydratase activities. The genes of the alpha and beta subunits of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein are located adjacent to each other in the human genome in a head-to-head orientation.

Function
This gene encodes the alpha subunit of the mitochondrial trifunctional protein, which catalyzes the last three steps of mitochondrial beta-oxidation of long chain fatty acids. The enzyme converts medium- and long-chain 2-enoyl-CoA compounds into the following 3-ketoacyl-CoA when NAD is solely present, and acetyl-CoA when NAD and CoASH are present. The alpha subunit catalyzes this reaction, and is attached to HADHB, which catalyzes the last step of the reaction.

Clinical significance
Mutations in this gene result in trifunctional protein deficiency or is_associated_with::long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency.

The most common form of the mutation is G1528C, in which the guanine at the 1528th position is changed to a cytosine. The gene mutation creates a protein deficiency that is associated with impaired oxidation of long-chain fatty acids that can lead to sudden infant death. Long-chain L-3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency is associated with some pregnancy-specific disorders, including preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets), hyperemesis gravidarum, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, and maternal floor infarct of the placenta. Additionally, it has been correlated with Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) disease.

From a clinical perspective, HADHA might also be a useful marker to predict resistance to certain types of chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer.