Creatinase or creatine amidinohydrolase (EC:3.5.3.3) catalyses the conversion of creatine and water to sarcosine and urea. This is a key step in the metabolic breakdown of creatinine by micro-organisms. Creatinase is also found in higher animals but its metabolic role is as yet not known.
The enzyme works as a homodimer, and is induced by choline chloride. Each monomer of creatinase has two clearly defined domains, a small N-terminal domain, and a large C-terminal domain. The C-terminal domain is a member of the MEROPS peptidase family M24 (clan MG), which share a common structural-fold, the \"pita-bread\" fold. The active site is located between the N- and C-terminal domains.
Defined by 3 residues: HIS:A-231 [auth A-232]GLU:A-261 [auth A-262]GLU:A-357 [auth A-358]
