Isobutyryl-coenzyme A is a necessary cofactor required for Polyketide synthase (PKS) enzyme(s), to catalyze the a,b-dehydrogenation of acyl-CoA esters to make many natural products via Polyketide synthase (PKS) assembly lines, as well as PKS-NRPS hybrid assembly lines. The resulting products comprise antibiotics and other bioactive molecules. Notably, isobutyryl-coenzyme A is also an intermediate in the metabolism of the amino acid valine, and it is structurally similar to intermediates in the catabolism of other small amino acids.
Defective Isobutyryl-coenzyme A, produced by the body, often results in a metabolic disease.
The enzyme 2-oxoisovalerate dehydrogenase (acylating) produces isobutyryl-CoA from ñ-ketoisovaleric acid.
The substrates of the enzyme are ñ-ketoisovaleric acid, coenzyme A (CoA), and oxidised nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD<sup>+</sup>). Its products are isobutyryl-CoA, carbon dioxide, reduced NADH and a proton.