L-3-cyanoalanine synthase

The enzyme  L -3-cyanoalanine synthase (EC 4.4.1.9) catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * L -cysteine + hydrogen cyanide $$\rightleftharpoons$$ L -3-cyanoalanine + hydrogen sulfide

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the class of carbon-sulfur lyases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is  L -cysteine hydrogen-sulfide-lyase (adding hydrogen cyanide L -3-cyanoalanine-forming). Other names in common use include β-cyanoalanine synthase, β-cyanoalanine synthetase, β-cyano- L -alanine synthase, and  L -cysteine hydrogen-sulfide-lyase (adding HCN). This enzyme participates in cyanoamino acid metabolism.