Indolepyruvate decarboxylase

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


 * 3-(indol-3-yl)pyruvate $$\rightleftharpoons$$ 2-(indol-3-yl)acetaldehyde + CO2

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, 3-(indol-3-yl)pyruvate, and two products, 2-(indol-3-yl)acetaldehyde 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 3-(indol-3-yl)pyruvate carboxy-lyase [(2-indol-3-yl)acetaldehyde-forming]. Other names in common use include indol-3-yl-pyruvate carboxy-lyase, and 3-(indol-3-yl)pyruvate carboxy-lyase. This enzyme participates in tryptophan metabolism.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, only one structure has been solved for this class of enzymes, with the PDB accession code.