The present invention relates to recombinant microorganisms comprising an isobutanol producing metabolic pathway and methods of using said recombinant microorganisms to produce isobutanol. In various aspects of the invention, the recombinant microorganisms may comprise at least one nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide with keto-isovalerate decarboxylase (KIVD) activity, wherein said polypeptide is at least about 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to a polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-214. Also provided are modified decarboxylases exhibiting an improved ability to utilize α-ketoisovalerate as a substrate in various beneficial enzymatic conversions.