Elephant shrews, in contrast to other mammals, possess both a lens- and a non-lens specific class-1 aldehyde dehydrogenase. Can convert/oxidize retinaldehyde to retinoic acid. an aldehyde + H2O + NAD(+) = a carboxylate + 2 H(+) + NADH Alcohol metabolism; ethanol degradation; acetate from ethanol: step 2/2. Homotetramer. Non-lens specific, predominant form expressed in the liver. Belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase family.