Reaction: A nitrile + 2 H2O = a carboxylate + NH3
Other name(s): acetonitrilase; benzonitrilase
Systematic name: nitrile aminohydrolase
Comments: Acts on a wide range of aromatic nitriles including (indole-3-yl)acetonitrile, and also on some aliphatic nitriles, and on the corresponding acid amides. cf. EC 4.2.1.84 nitrile hydratase.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EAWAG-BBD, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 9024-90-2
References:
1. Harper, D.B. Microbial metabolism of aromatic nitriles. Enzymology of C-N cleavage by Nocardia sp. (rhodochrous group) N.C.I.B. 11216. Biochem. J. 165 (1977) 309-319. [PMID: 21655]
2. Thimann, K.V. and Mahadevan, S. Nitrilase. I. Occurrence, preparation, and general properties of the enzyme. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 105 (1964) 133-141.
3. Pace, H.C. and Brenner, C. The nitrilase superfamily: classification, structure and function. Genome Biol. 2 (2001) 0001.1-0001.9. [PMID: 11380987]