Carboxymethylhydantoinase

Carboxymethylhydantoinase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction of 5-carboxymethylhydantoin with water to form N-carbamoylsarcosine and carbon dioxide. This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds in cyclic amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 5-carboxymethylhydantoin amidohydrolase.

Function

Carboxymethylhydantoinase is involved in the metabolic pathway known as allantoin degradation. This pathway is part of purine metabolism, which is essential for the breakdown of purine bases. The enzyme plays a crucial role in the conversion of 5-carboxymethylhydantoin to N-carbamoylsarcosine, a key step in the degradation of allantoin.

Structure

The structure of carboxymethylhydantoinase is not fully understood. However, like other enzymes, it is likely to have an active site where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place. Further research is needed to elucidate the exact structure and function of this enzyme.

Clinical Significance

While the clinical significance of carboxymethylhydantoinase is not yet fully understood, enzymes in the same family have been implicated in various diseases. For example, defects in purine metabolism can lead to a variety of disorders, including gout and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Further research is needed to determine if carboxymethylhydantoinase plays a role in these or other diseases.

See Also

• Enzyme
• Hydrolase
• Allantoin
• Purine metabolism

References

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