Benzoylformate decarboxylase

In enzymology, a benzoylformate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.7) is an enzyme that catalyzes the following chemical reaction: In enzymology, a benzoylformate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.7) is an enzyme that catalyzes the following chemical reaction: Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, benzoylformate, and two products, benzaldehyde and CO2. This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the carboxy-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is benzoylformate carboxy-lyase (benzaldehyde-forming). Other names in common use include phenylglyoxylate decarboxylase, and benzoylformate carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in benzoate degradation via hydroxylation and toluene and xylene degradation. It employs one cofactor, thiamin diphosphate. As of late 2007, 8 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1BFD, 1MCZ, 1PI3, 1PO7, 1Q6Z, 1YNO, 2FN3, and 2FWN.