This enzyme is a member of the aromatic amino acid lyase family, other members of which are EC 4.3.1.3 (histidine ammonia-lyase), EC 4.3.1.23 (tyrosine ammonia-lyase) and EC 4.3.1.24 (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). The enzyme from some monocots, including maize, and from the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides, deaminate L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine with similar catalytic efficiency [3]. The enzyme contains the cofactor 3,5-dihydro-5-methylidene-4H-imidazol-4-one (MIO), which is common to this family [3]. This unique cofactor is formed autocatalytically by cyclization and dehydration of the three amino-acid residues alanine, serine and glycine [4].
History
EC 4.3.1.25 created 2008 (EC 4.3.1.5 created 1965, part-incorporated 2008)