L-ascorbate oxidase

In enzymology, a L-ascorbate oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 2 L-ascorbate + O2 $$\rightleftharpoons$$ 2 dehydroascorbate + 2 H2O

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are L-ascorbate and O2, whereas its two products are dehydroascorbate and H2O.

This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on diphenols and related substances as donor with oxygen as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-ascorbate:oxygen oxidoreductase. Other names in common use include ascorbase, ascorbic acid oxidase, ascorbate oxidase, ascorbic oxidase, ascorbate dehydrogenase, L-ascorbic acid oxidase, AAO, L-ascorbate:O2 oxidoreductase, and AA oxidase. This enzyme participates in ascorbate metabolism. It employs one cofactor, copper.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 4 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , and.