In enzymology, a chorismate lyase (EC 4.1.3.40) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
- chorismate 4-hydroxybenzoate + pyruvate
Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, chorismate, and two products, 4-hydroxybenzoate and pyruvate.
This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the oxo-acid-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is chorismate pyruvate-lyase (4-hydroxybenzoate-forming). Other names in common use include CL, CPL, and UbiC.
This enzyme catalyses the first step in ubiquinone biosynthesis, the removal of pyruvate from chorismate, to yield 4-hydroxybenzoate in Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacteria. Its activity does not require metal cofactors.