Phenylalanine dehydrogenase

In enzymology, a phenylalanine dehydrogenase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * L-phenylalanine + H2O + NAD+ $$\rightleftharpoons$$ phenylpyruvate + NH3 + NADH + H+

The 3 substrates of this enzyme are L-phenylalanine, H2O, and NAD+, whereas its 4 products are phenylpyruvate, NH3, NADH, and H+.

This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-NH2 group of donors with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-phenylalanine:NAD+ oxidoreductase (deaminating). Other names in common use include L-phenylalanine dehydrogenase, and PHD. This enzyme participates in phenylalanine metabolism and phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis.

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