Nitrilase
Encyclopedia
Nitrilase enzymes catalyse the hydrolysis
of nitrile
s to carboxylic acid
s and ammonia
, without the formation of "free" amide intermediates. Nitrilases are involved in natural product biosynthesis and post translational modifications in plants, animals, fungi and certain prokaryotes. Nitrilases can also be used as catalysts in preparative organic chemistry. Among others, nitrilases have been used for the resolution of racemic mixtures. Nitrilase should not be confused with nitrile hydratase
(nitrile hydro-lyase; ) which hydrolyses nitriles to amides. Nitrile hydratases are almost invariably co-expressed with an amidase, which converts the amide to the carboxylic acid, consequently it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish nitrilase activity from nitrile hydratase plus amidase activity.
Nitrilase is a polypeptide consisting of alpha helices and beta sheets. It is 262 residues in length and its structure was determined through [x-ray diffraction]. The structure of nitrilase shown has a resolution of 1.57 [angstroms] (Å) or 0.157 nanometers (nm). Nitrilase is an enzyme and therefore requires a [ligand] in order for it to become active. Magnesium ion is the ligand that is a tightly bound to the enzyme to allow for this activation. This information was taken from Protein Data Bank
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which molecules of water are split into hydrogen cations and hydroxide anions in the process of a chemical mechanism. It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by condensation polymerization...
of nitrile
Nitrile
A nitrile is any organic compound that has a -C≡N functional group. The prefix cyano- is used interchangeably with the term nitrile in industrial literature. Nitriles are found in many useful compounds, one example being super glue .Inorganic compounds containing the -C≡N group are not called...
s to carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acid
Carboxylic acids are organic acids characterized by the presence of at least one carboxyl group. The general formula of a carboxylic acid is R-COOH, where R is some monovalent functional group...
s and ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
, without the formation of "free" amide intermediates. Nitrilases are involved in natural product biosynthesis and post translational modifications in plants, animals, fungi and certain prokaryotes. Nitrilases can also be used as catalysts in preparative organic chemistry. Among others, nitrilases have been used for the resolution of racemic mixtures. Nitrilase should not be confused with nitrile hydratase
Nitrile hydratase
In enzymology, nitrile hydratases are mononuclear iron or non-corrinoid cobalt enzymes that catalyse the hydration of diverse nitriles to their corresponding amidesR-C≡N + H2O → R-CNH2-Metal cofactor:...
(nitrile hydro-lyase; ) which hydrolyses nitriles to amides. Nitrile hydratases are almost invariably co-expressed with an amidase, which converts the amide to the carboxylic acid, consequently it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish nitrilase activity from nitrile hydratase plus amidase activity.
Nitrilase is a polypeptide consisting of alpha helices and beta sheets. It is 262 residues in length and its structure was determined through [x-ray diffraction]. The structure of nitrilase shown has a resolution of 1.57 [angstroms] (Å) or 0.157 nanometers (nm). Nitrilase is an enzyme and therefore requires a [ligand] in order for it to become active. Magnesium ion is the ligand that is a tightly bound to the enzyme to allow for this activation. This information was taken from Protein Data Bank