Citrate lyases of lactic acid bacteria

Citrate Iyase is a key enzyme of the citrate metabolism which is involved in flavor and texture of many fermented milk products. Citrate Iyase which catalyses the cleavage of citrate into oxaloacetate and acetate is a multienzyme complex composed of three proteins: an acyl carrier protein (ACP); a citrate, acetate-ACP transferase; and a citryl-S-ACP Iyase. The citrate Iyase is active only when the thioester residue of the prosthetic group bound to ACP is acetylated. In the presence of citrate, the transferase mediates the formation of citryl-S-acyl carrier protein by acyl exchange and liberation of acetate. Then the Iyase subunit cleaves the citryl-S-ACP with libe- ration of oxaloacetate an…