Isopenicillin-N epimerase

In enzymology, an isopenicillin-N epimerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * isopenicillin N $$\rightleftharpoons$$ penicillin N

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, isopenicillin N, and one product, penicillin N.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those racemases and epimerases acting on amino acids and derivatives. The systematic name of this enzyme class is penicillin-N 5-amino-5-carboxypentanoyl-epimerase. This enzyme participates in penicillin and cephalosporin biosynthesis.