Functions in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids. Catalyzes the dehydration of (2R,3R)-2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylpentanoate (2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylvalerate) into 2-oxo-3-methylpentanoate (2-oxo-3-methylvalerate) and of (2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate (2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate) into 2-oxo-3-methylbutanoate (2-oxoisovalerate), the penultimate precursor to L-isoleucine and L-valine, respectively