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 ...
, a formamidase () 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
:formamide + H
2O
formate + NH
3
Thus, the two
substrates of this enzyme are
formamide
Formamide is an amide derived from formic acid. It is a colorless liquid which is miscible with water and has an ammonia-like odor. It is chemical feedstock for the manufacture of sulfa drugs and other pharmaceuticals, herbicides and pesticide ...
and
H2O, whereas its two
products are
formate
Formate (IUPAC name: methanoate) is the conjugate base of formic acid. Formate is an anion () or its derivatives such as ester of formic acid. The salts and esters are generally colorless.Werner Reutemann and Heinz Kieczka "Formic Acid" in ''Ull ...
and
NH3.
This enzyme belongs to the family of
hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in linear amides. The
systematic name of this enzyme class is formamide amidohydrolase. This enzyme participates in
glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism describes a variety of reactions involving glyoxylate or dicarboxylates. Glyoxylate is the conjugate base of glyoxylic acid, and within a buffered environment of known pH such as the cell cytoplasm these ter ...
and
nitrogen metabolism
The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by which nitrogen is converted into multiple chemical forms as it circulates among atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine ecosystems. The conversion of nitrogen can be carried out through both biologi ...
.
Structural studies
As of late 2007, four
structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with
PDB accession codes , , , and .
References
*
*
EC 3.5.1
Enzymes of known structure
{{3.5-enzyme-stub