Reaction: carbendazim + H2O = 2-aminobenzimidazole + CO2 + methanol (overall reaction)
(1a) carbendazim + H2O = N-(1H-1,3-benzodiazol-2-yl)carbamate + methanol
(1b) N-(1H-1,3-benzodiazol-2-yl)carbamate = 2-aminobenzimidazole + CO2 (spontaneous)
Glossary: carbendazim = methyl 1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate; 2-aminobenzimidazole = 1H-benzimidazol-2-amine
Other name(s): mheI (gene name)
Systematic name: carbendazim methanol hydrolase (decarboxylating)
Comments: The enzyme, which is inducible in the soil bacterium Nocardioides sp. (strain SG-4G), catalyses the degradation of the fungicide carbendazim. Following hydrolysis of the carbamate ester, the carbamate decarboxylates spontaneously.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Pandey, G., Dorrian, S.J., Russell, R.J., Brearley, C., Kotsonis, S. and Oakeshott, J.G. Cloning and biochemical characterization of a novel carbendazim (methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate)-hydrolyzing esterase from the newly isolated Nocardioides sp. strain SG-4G and its potential for use in enzymatic bioremediation. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 76 (2010) 2940-2945. [PMID: 20228105]