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 ...

, a glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase () is an enzyme 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 :4-carboxybut-2-enoyl-CoA

\rightleftharpoons

but-2-enoyl-CoA + CO₂ Hence, this enzyme has one

substrate Substrate may refer to: Physical layers *Substrate (biology), the natural environment in which an organism lives, or the surface or medium on which an organism grows or is attached ** Substrate (locomotion), the surface over which an organism lo ...

, 4-carboxybut-2-enoyl-CoA, and two products, but-2-enoyl-CoA and CO₂. 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 carboxy-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 4-carboxybut-2-enoyl-CoA carboxy-lyase (but-2-enoyl-CoA-forming). Other names in common use include glutaconyl coenzyme A decarboxylase, pent-2-enoyl-CoA carboxy-lyase, and 4-carboxybut-2-enoyl-CoA carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in benzoate degradation via coa ligation and butanoate metabolism.

Structural studies

As of late 2007, only one

structure A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...

has been solved for this class of enzymes, with the PDB accession code .

References

* * EC 4.1.1 Enzymes of known structure {{4.1-enzyme-stub