Cytosolic dehydrogenase that catalyzes the irreversible oxidation of a wide range of aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acid (PubMed:12851412). Functions downstream of retinol dehydrogenases and catalyzes the oxidation of retinaldehyde into retinoic acid, the second step in the oxidation of retinol/vitamin A into retinoic acid (PubMed:12851412). This pathway is crucial to control the levels of retinol and retinoic acid, two important molecules which excess can be teratogenic and cytotoxic (Probable). Also oxidizes aldehydes resulting from lipid peroxidation like (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-enal/HNE, malonaldehyde and hexanal that form protein adducts and are highly cytotoxic. By participating for instance to the clearance of (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-enal/HNE in the lens epithelium prevents the formation of HNE-protein adducts and lens opacification (PubMed:17567582). Functions also downstream of fructosamine-3-kinase in the fructosamine degradation pathway by catalyzing the oxidation of 3-deoxyglucosone, the carbohydrate product of fructosamine 3-phosphate decomposition, which is itself a potent glycating agent that may react with lysine and arginine side-chains of proteins (By similarity). Has also an aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase activity and is probably part of an alternative pathway for the biosynthesis of GABA/4-aminobutanoate in midbrain, thereby playing a role in GABAergic synaptic transmission (PubMed:26430123). an aldehyde + H2O + NAD(+) = a carboxylate + 2 H(+) + NADH all-trans-retinal + H2O + NAD(+) = all-trans-retinoate + 2 H(+) + NADH 9-cis-retinal + H2O + NAD(+) = 9-cis-retinoate + 2 H(+) + NADH 11-cis-retinal + H2O + NAD(+) = 11-cis-retinoate + 2 H(+) + NADH 13-cis-retinal + H2O + NAD(+) = 13-cis-retinoate + 2 H(+) + NADH 4-aminobutanal + H2O + NAD(+) = 4-aminobutanoate + 2 H(+) + NADH 3-deoxyglucosone + H2O + NAD(+) = 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-gluconate + 2 H(+) + NADH (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-enal + H2O + NAD(+) = (E)-4-hydroxynon-2-enoate + 2 H(+) + NADH H2O + malonaldehyde + NAD(+) = 3-oxopropanoate + 2 H(+) + NADH H2O + hexanal + NAD(+) = 2 H(+) + hexanoate + NADH H2O + NAD(+) + propanal = 2 H(+) + NADH + propanoate acetaldehyde + H2O + NAD(+) = acetate + 2 H(+) + NADH benzaldehyde + H2O + NAD(+) = benzoate + 2 H(+) + NADH The aminobutyraldehyde dehydrogenase activity is negatively regulated by ethanol in vivo. Cofactor metabolism; retinol metabolism. Homotetramer (By similarity). Interacts with PRMT3; the interaction is direct, inhibits ALDH1A1 aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and is independent of the methyltransferase activity of PRMT3 (By similarity). Expressed in retina (PubMed:1935685). Expressed in lens and cornea (at protein level) (PubMed:17567582). Expressed by midbrain dopamine neurons (PubMed:26430123). The N-terminus is blocked most probably by acetylation. Mice lacking Aldh1a1, obtained at the expected Mendelian ratio, are viable and fertile without obvious defects in growth or survival (PubMed:12851412). However, they are more sensitive to retinol toxicity and are less efficient at metabolizing excess retinol to retinoic acid/RA (PubMed:12851412). An excess of retinol leads to the accumulation of retinaldehyde in these mice (PubMed:12851412). Enhanced alcohol consumption and preference is also observed in knockout mice (PubMed:26430123). A consistent lenticular opacification is also detected in old mice (PubMed:17567582). Belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase family. Extended N-terminus.