ABSTRACT. BALB/cByJ (J) mice have short-chain acylCoA dehydrogenase (SCAD) deficiency and an organic aciduria similar to that of human SCAD deficiency.[9,10(n)-3H]-and 115,16(n)-3H]palmitate oxidations in J mouse fibroblasts were 96 and 35% of control, respectively, consistent with an isolated SCAD defect. Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities were assayed in muscle and fibroblast mitochondria from BALB/cBy controls (Y) and SCADdeficient J mice. Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) activities were comparable in both J and Y mice from all tissues. In the presence of MCAD antiserum, SCAD activities in J mice were undetectable in both tissues. Apparent Km and V,,, values in liver mitochondria suggested a somewhat increased affinity of MCAD for butyryl-CoA in J mice, as compared with MCAD from other species. Immunoblot studies using mitochondria revealed identical apparent SCAD molecular weight in liver, muscle, and fibroblasts from Y mice and no detectable SCAD antigen in J mice; MCAD antigen was detected in comparable amounts from both Y and J mice. Radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation studies in J mouse fibroblasts revealed no SCAD synthesis, but normal MCAD synthesis. These data argue against the existence of tissue-specific SCAD isoforms in the mouse and confirm that this mouse strain is a model for the human organic aciduria resulting from this B-oxidation defect. (Pediatr Res 31: 552-556, 1992) Abbreviations SCAD, short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase MCAD, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase J, BALB/cByJ Y, BALB/cBy control Human SCAD deficiency is an inborn error of fatty acid oxidation reported in three infants (1, 2). Two presented with metabolic acidosis and ethylmalonic aciduria and the third presented with severe skeletal muscle weakness, developmental delay, and muscle carnitine deficiency (1, 2). Detailed enzymatic