Carnitinamidase

Carnitinamidase () is a microbial enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of (R)-carnitinamide to (R)-carnitine and ammonia:

The reaction has been used to produce the enantiomer, (R)-carnitine from the racemic mixture, DL-carnitinamide.

This enzyme is a hydrolase, one acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in linear amides. The systematic name of this enzyme class is L-carnitinamide amidohydrolase. Other names in use include L-carnitinamidase, carnitine amidase, and L-carnitine amidase.

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