What is "dehydratase"

n. (context enzyme English) Any enzyme that catalyzes the removal of the elements of water from a compound, often leaving a double bond.

Dehydratase is an enzyme that catalyzes the removal of oxygen and hydrogen from organic compounds in the form of water. This process is also known as dehydration reaction.

There are four classes of dehydratases:

1. Dehydratases acting on 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA esters (no cofactors)

2. Dehydratases acting on 2-hydroxyacyl-CoA esters (radical reaction, [4Fe-4S] cluster containing)

3. Dehydratases acting on 4-hydroxyacyl-CoA esters ([4Fe-4S] and FAD containing)

4. Dehydratases containing an [4Fe-4S] cluster as active site (aconitase, fumarase, serine dehydratase)