Arylformamidase

In enzymology, an arylformamidase (EC 3.5.1.9) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

N-formyl-L-kynurenine + H₂O ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ formate + L-kynurenine

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are N-formyl-L-kynurenine and H₂O, whereas its two products are formate and L-kynurenine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in linear amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is aryl-formylamine amidohydrolase. Other names in common use include kynurenine formamidase, formylase, formylkynureninase, formylkynurenine formamidase, formamidase I, and formamidase II. This enzyme participates in tryptophan metabolism and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism.

References

• HAYAISHI O, STANIER RY (1951). "The bacterial oxidation of tryptophan. III. Enzymatic activities of cell-free extracts from bacteria employing the aromatic pathway". J. Bacteriol. 62 (6): 691–709. PMC 386191. PMID 14907621.
• JAKOBY WB (1954). "Kynurenine formamidase from Neurospora". J. Biol. Chem. 207 (2): 657–63. PMID 13163050.
• MEHLER AH, KNOX WE (1950). "The conversion of tryptophan to kynurenine in liver. II. The enzymatic hydrolysis of formylkynurenine". J. Biol. Chem. 187 (1): 431–8. PMID 14794728.