Ethanolamine ammonia-lyase is an enzyme crucial for the catabolism of ethanolamine, a compound derived from cell membranes. This enzyme is composed of two subunits: a heavy chain and a light chain. In bacteria like Enterococcus faecalis, the ethanolamine ammonia-lyase is encoded by the eutB and eutC genes, where eutC represents the light chain. The recombinant form of this enzyme, specifically the light chain from Enterococcus faecalis, is of interest for its role in ethanolamine metabolism.
Ethanolamine ammonia-lyase catalyzes the breakdown of ethanolamine into acetaldehyde and ammonia. This reaction is crucial for bacteria that utilize ethanolamine as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The enzyme requires adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) as a coenzyme and operates within specialized bacterial microcompartments known as metabolosomes.
Ethanolamine is particularly prevalent in environments rich in cell membranes, such as the gastrointestinal tract. Bacteria capable of catabolizing ethanolamine, like Enterococcus faecalis, possess a complex set of genes known as the eut operon. This operon includes eutB and eutC, which encode the subunits of ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, as well as accessory genes that enhance ethanolamine breakdown .
While specific data on the recombinant eutC from Enterococcus faecalis is not readily available, studies on ethanolamine ammonia-lyase in other bacteria provide valuable insights into its function and importance. For instance, in Salmonella enterica, the ethanolamine ammonia-lyase is localized within a metabolosome, where it interacts with other enzymes to facilitate ethanolamine catabolism .
| Subunit | Gene | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Chain | eutB | Forms complex with light chain for catalysis |
| Light Chain | eutC | Essential for enzyme stability and activity |
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Ethanolamine Ammonia-Lyase | Catalyzes ethanolamine breakdown into acetaldehyde and ammonia |
| Adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl) | Coenzyme required for ethanolamine ammonia-lyase activity |
| Metabolosome | Specialized compartment where ethanolamine catabolism occurs |
KEGG: efa:EF1627
STRING: 226185.EF1627