Benzoin aldolase

The enzyme benzoin aldolase catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone $$\rightleftharpoons$$ 2 benzaldehyde

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the aldehyde-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase (benzaldehyde-forming)—the systematic name of benzoin is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone. Other names in common use include benzaldehyde lyase, and 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase. It employs one cofactor, thiamin diphosphate.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 3 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , and.