What is "hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase"

n. (context biochemistry English) An enzyme involved in pyruvate metabolism.

In enzymology, a Hydroxyacylglutathione hydrolase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

(R)-S-lactoylglutathione + water $\rightleftharpoons$ glutathione + a 2-hydroxy carboxylate

Hence, this enzyme has two substrate, (R)-S-lactoylglutathione and water, and two products, glutathione and a 2-hydroxy carboxylate. With the common substrate methylglyoxal, the product is D-lactate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, specifically the class of thioester lyases. This enzyme is commonly known as glyoxylase II. This enzyme participates in pyruvate metabolism.