Ethanol-induced organ damage is attributed to its toxic metabolite acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) therefore metabolism and elimination of this metabolite is important for cellular defence. Mitochondrial ALDH1B1 is one of several human ALDHs that can oxidise CH3CHO to acetic acid (CH3COOH) (Stagos et al. 2010). ALDH1B1 is thought to function as a homotetramer.