4-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase

The enzyme 4-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 2-carboxy-2,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-acetate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ 4,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-acetate + CO2

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the carboxy-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 2-carboxy-2,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-acetate carboxy-lyase (4,5-dihydro-5-oxofuran-2-acetate-forming). Other names in common use include gamma-4-carboxymuconolactone decarboxylase, and 4-carboxymuconolactone carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in benzoate degradation via hydroxylation.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, only one structure has been solved for this class of enzymes, with the PDB accession code.