Dihydroxyphenylalanine ammonia-lyase

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


 * 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ trans-caffeate + NH3

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine, and two products, trans-caffeate 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 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (trans-caffeate-forming). Other names in common use include beta-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine (DOPA) ammonia-lyase, and 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. This enzyme participates in tyrosine metabolism.