Aliphatic nitrilase

In enzymology, an aliphatic nitrilase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * R-CN + 2 H2O $$\rightleftharpoons$$ R-COOH + NH3

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are R-CN and H2O, whereas its two products are R-COOH and NH3.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in nitriles. The systematic name of this enzyme class is aliphatic nitrile aminohydrolase. This enzyme participates in styrene degradation.