The

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

(''S'')-norcoclaurine synthase () catalyzes the

chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...

: 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde + 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzene-1,2-diol (

Dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic compound, organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. Dopamine const ...

)

\rightleftharpoons

(''S'')-

norcoclaurine Higenamine (norcoclaurine) is a chemical compound found in a variety of plants including ''Nandina domestica'' (fruit), ''Aconitum carmichaelii'' (root), ''Asarum heterotropioides'', '' Galium divaricatum'' (stem and vine), ''Annona squamosa'', ...

+ HO

This enzyme belongs to the family of

lyase In biochemistry, a lyase is an enzyme that catalyzes the breaking (an elimination reaction) of various chemical bonds by means other than hydrolysis (a substitution reaction) and oxidation, often forming a new double bond or a new ring structure. ...

s, specifically the hydro-lyases, which cleave carbon-oxygen bonds. The

systematic name A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection. Systematic names are usually part of a nomenclature. A semisystematic name or semitrivial ...

of this enzyme class is 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde hydro-lyase dding dopamine (''S'')-norcoclaurine-forming''. Other names in common use include (''S'')-norlaudanosoline synthase, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde hydro-lyase (adding dopamine). This enzyme participates in

benzylisoquinoline Substitution of the heterocycle isoquinoline at the C1 position by a benzyl group provides 1‑benzylisoquinoline, the most widely examined of the numerous benzylisoquinoline structural isomers. The 1-benzylisoquinoline moiety can be identified wi ...

alkaloid Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar ...

biosynthesis Biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. ...

References

* * * EC 4.2.1 Enzymes of unknown structure {{4.2-enzyme-stub