What is "alliinase"

n. (context biochemistry English) An enzyme that converts alliin into allicin.

In enzymology, an alliin lyase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

an S-alkyl-L-cysteine S-oxide $\rightleftharpoons$ an alkyl sulfenate + 2-aminoacrylate

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, S-alkyl-L- cysteine S-oxide, and two products, alkyl sulfenate and 2-amino acrylate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the class of carbon-sulfur lyases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is S-alkyl-L-cysteine S-oxide alkyl-sulfenate-lyase (2-aminoacrylate-forming). Other names in common use include alliinase, cysteine sulfoxide lyase, alkylcysteine sulfoxide lyase, S-alkylcysteine sulfoxide lyase, L-cysteine sulfoxide lyase, S-alkyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide lyase, and alliin alkyl-sulfenate-lyase. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate.

Many alliinases contain a novel N-terminal epidermal growth factor-like domain ( EGF-like domain).