Chorismate lyase

The enzyme chorismate lyase (EC 4.1.3.40) catalyzes the first step in ubiquinone biosynthesis, the removal of pyruvate from chorismate, to yield 4-hydroxybenzoate in Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria.

[1] It belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the oxo-acid-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds.

This enzyme catalyses the chemical reaction:[2] Its activity does not require metal cofactors.

It is also called chorismate pyruvate lyase (4-hydroxybenzoate-forming) and it is also abbreviated several different ways: CPL, CL, and ubiC.

This enzyme belongs to the class lyases; more specifically the ox-acid-lyase or the carbon-carbon-lyases.