In
enzymology
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 ...
, an arylacetonitrilase () is an
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 ...
that
catalyzes
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
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-chlorophenylacetonitrile + 2 H
2O
4-chlorophenylacetate + NH
3
Thus, the two
substrates of this enzyme are
4-chlorophenylacetonitrile and
H2O, whereas its two
products are
4-chlorophenylacetate and
NH3.
This enzyme belongs to the family of
hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in nitriles. The
systematic name of this enzyme class is arylacetonitrile aminohydrolase. This enzyme participates in
cyanoamino acid metabolism.
References
*
*
EC 3.5.5
Enzymes of unknown structure
{{3.5-enzyme-stub