Methylaspartate ammonia-lyase

In enzymology, a methylaspartate ammonia-lyase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * L-threo-3-methylaspartate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ mesaconate + NH3

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, L-threo-3-methylaspartate, and two products, mesaconate and NH3.

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically ammonia lyases, which cleave carbon-nitrogen bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-threo-3-methylaspartate ammonia-lyase (mesaconate-forming). Other names in common use include beta-methylaspartase, 3-methylaspartase, and L-threo-3-methylaspartate ammonia-lyase. This enzyme participates in c5-branched dibasic acid metabolism and nitrogen metabolism. It employs one cofactor, cobamide.

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