- Source: Cyanoalanine nitrilase
In enzymology, a cyanoalanine nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.4) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
3-cyano-L-alanine + 2 H2O
⇌
{\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }
L-aspartate + NH3
Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are 3-cyano-L-alanine and H2O, whereas its two products are L-aspartate 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 3-cyano-L-alanine aminohydrolase. This enzyme is also called beta-cyanoalanine nitrilase. This enzyme participates in cyanoamino acid metabolism.
References
Yanase H, Sakai T, Tonomuro K (1983). "Purification, crystallization and some properties of beta-cyano-L-alanine-degrading enzyme in Pseudomonas sp. 13". Agric. Biol. Chem. 47 (3): 473–482. doi:10.1271/bbb1961.47.473.
