Phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase

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


 * N-[(R)-4'-phosphopantothenoyl]-L-cysteine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ pantotheine 4'-phosphate + CO2

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, N-[(R)-4'-phosphopantothenoyl]-L-cysteine, and two products, pantotheine 4'-phosphate 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 N-[(R)-4'-phosphopantothenoyl]-L-cysteine carboxy-lyase (pantotheine-4'-phosphate-forming). Other names in common use include 4-phosphopantotheoylcysteine decarboxylase, 4-phosphopantothenoyl-L-cysteine decarboxylase, PPC-decarboxylase, and N-[(R)-4'-phosphopantothenoyl]-L-cysteine carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in pantothenate and coa biosynthesis.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 3 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , and.