Structure and catalytic mechanism of glutamate decarboxylase: a review

Abstract:

Glutamate decarboxylase, a widely distributed in plants, animals and microorganisms in nature, is a pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-dependent enzyme. It undergoes structural changes in an acidic environment and can irreversibly catalyze the α-decarboxylation of l-glutamic acid or glutamate to produce γ-aminobutyric acid. γ-aminobutyric acid, as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in human body, has important physiological functions and can be widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this paper, the research progress of the structure and catalytic mechanism of glutamate decarboxylase was summarized.

Key words:Glutamate decarboxylase, γ-aminobutyric acid, Catalytic mechanism, Crystal structure