Oxalate decarboxylase

Oxalate decarboxylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of oxalate, a compound found in many plants, into formate and carbon dioxide. This reaction is significant because oxalate can be toxic when accumulated in the human body, leading to conditions such as kidney stones. The enzyme plays a crucial role in organisms that can metabolize oxalate, including certain fungi and bacteria, allowing them to use oxalate as a carbon source.

Function

Oxalate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.2) operates by breaking down oxalate into two smaller molecules, formate and carbon dioxide, through a decarboxylation process. This reaction is essential in environments where oxalate is abundant, as it detoxifies oxalate and converts it into less harmful substances. In humans, the enzyme could potentially be used to treat oxalate-related conditions, although most oxalate degradation in humans is managed through renal excretion rather than enzymatic breakdown.

Structure

The structure of oxalate decarboxylase has been studied extensively through X-ray crystallography. These studies reveal that the enzyme typically exists as a dimer, with each subunit containing a manganese ion that is crucial for the enzyme's catalytic activity. The manganese ion helps stabilize the negative charge developed during the decarboxylation of oxalate.

Biotechnological Applications

Due to its ability to degrade oxalate, oxalate decarboxylase has potential applications in biotechnology and medicine. For instance, it could be used in the treatment of kidney stones by breaking down oxalate in the urinary tract. Additionally, the enzyme has applications in agriculture, where it can be used to degrade oxalate in animal feed, thus preventing oxalate poisoning in livestock.

Genetic Engineering

Efforts have been made to express oxalate decarboxylase in transgenic plants and microorganisms to confer resistance to oxalate toxicity. This is particularly useful in agriculture, where crops can be made resistant to fungi that produce oxalate as a means of pathogenesis.

See Also

• Enzyme
• Decarboxylation
• Kidney stones
• Biotechnology