The hydroxynitrile lyase from almond: a lyase that looks like an oxidoreductase.
Dreveny, I., Gruber, K., Glieder, A., Thompson, A., Kratky, C.(2001) Structure 9: 803-815
- PubMed: 11566130 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0969-2126(01)00639-6
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1JU2 - PubMed Abstract: 
Cyanogenesis is a defense process of several thousand plant species. Hydroxynitrile lyase, a key enzyme of this process, cleaves a cyanohydrin into hydrocyanic acid and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone. The reverse reaction constitutes an important tool in biocatalysis. Different classes of hydroxynitrile lyases have convergently evolved from FAD-dependent oxidoreductases, alpha/beta hydrolases, and alcohol dehydrogenases. The FAD-dependent hydroxynitrile lyases (FAD-HNLs) carry a flavin cofactor whose redox properties appear to be unimportant for catalysis.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institut für Chemie, Karl-Franzens-Universität, Heinrichstrasse 28, Graz A-8010, Austria.