Tyrosine decarboxylase

In enzymology, a tyrosine decarboxylase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * L-tyrosine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ tyramine + CO2

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, L-tyrosine, and two products, tyramine and 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 L-tyrosine carboxy-lyase (tyramine-forming). Other names in common use include L-tyrosine decarboxylase, L-(-)-tyrosine apodecarboxylase, and L-tyrosine carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in tyrosine metabolism and alkaloid biosynthesis. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate.