The enzyme isoprene synthase (EC 4.2.3.27) catalyzes the chemical reaction

prenyl pyrophosphate \rightleftharpoons isoprene + diphosphate

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically those carbon-oxygen lyases acting on phosphates. The systematic name of this enzyme class is prenyl-diphosphate diphosphate-lyase (isoprene-forming). Other names in common use include ISPC, and ISPS. The crystal structure of ISPS was the first of a hemiterpene synthase and was reported by the research group of David W. Christianson at the University of Pennsylvania.[1]

References

  1. ^ Köksal, Mustafa; Zimmer, Ina; Schnitzler, Jörg-Peter; Christianson, David W. (September 2010). "Structure of Isoprene Synthase Illuminates the Chemical Mechanism of Teragram Atmospheric Carbon Emission". Journal of Molecular Biology. 402 (2): 363–373. doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2010.07.009. PMC 2942996. PMID 20624401

Further reading