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In enzymology, a formimidoylglutamase (EC 3.5.3.8) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

N-formimidoyl-L-glutamate + H₂O L-glutamate + formamide

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are N-formimidoyl-L-glutamate and H₂O, whereas its two products are L-glutamate and formamide.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in linear amidines. The systematic name of this enzyme class is N-formimidoyl-L-glutamate formimidoylhydrolase. Other names in common use include formiminoglutamase, N-formiminoglutamate hydrolase, and N-formimino-L-glutamate formiminohydrolase. This enzyme participates in histidine metabolism.

Structural studies

As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1XFK and 2A0M.

References

• Kaminskas E, Kimhi Y, Magasanik B (1970). "Urocanase and N-formimino-L-glutamate formiminohydrolase of Bacillus subtilis, two enzymes of the histidine degradation pathway". J. Biol. Chem. 245 (14): 3536–44. PMID 4990470.
• Lund P, Magasanik B (1965). "N-formimino-L-glutamate formiminohydrolase of Aerobacter aerogenes". J. Biol. Chem. 240 (11): 4316–9. PMID 5845833.