Threonine aldolase

In enzymology, a threonine aldolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * L-threonine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ glycine + acetaldehyde

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, L-threonine, and two products, glycine and acetaldehyde.

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 L-threonine acetaldehyde-lyase (glycine-forming). This enzyme is also called L-threonine acetaldehyde-lyase. This enzyme participates in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 5 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , and.