In enzymology, an aliphatic nitrilase also known as aliphatic nitrile aminohydrolase () is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of nitriles to carboxylic acids:
R-CN + 2 H2O R-COOH + NH3
Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are an aliphatic nitrile (R-CN) and H2O, whereas its two products are a carboxylic acid (R-COOH) and NH3.
This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in nitriles. This enzyme participates in styrene degradation.
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