Benzoin aldolase


In enzymology, a benzoin aldolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, benzoin, and one product, benzaldehyde.
This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the aldehyde-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase —the systematic name of benzoin is 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone. Other names in common use include benzaldehyde lyase, and 2-hydroxy-1,2-diphenylethanone benzaldehyde-lyase. It employs one cofactor, thiamin diphosphate.

Structural studies

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