Reaction: (4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate + H+ = 4-methylphenol + CO2
Other name(s): p-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase; p-Hpd; 4-Hpd; 4-hydroxyphenylacetate carboxy-lyase
Systematic name: (4-hydroxyphenyl)acetate carboxy-lyase (4-methylphenol-forming)
Comments: The enzyme, from the strict anaerobe Clostridium difficile, can also use (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate as a substrate, yielding 4-methylcatechol as a product. The enzyme is a glycyl radical enzyme.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 340137-18-0
References:
1. D'Ari, L., and Barker, H.A. p-Cresol formation by cell-free extracts of Clostridium difficile. Arch. Microbiol. 143 (1985) 311-312. [PMID: 3938267]
2. Selmer, T. and Andrei, P.I. p-Hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase from Clostridium difficile. A novel glycyl radical enzyme catalysing the formation of p-cresol. Eur. J. Biochem. 268 (2001) 1363-1372. [PMID: 11231288]
3. Andrei, P.I., Pierik, A.J., Zauner, S., Andrei-Selmer, L.C. and Selmer, T. Subunit composition of the glycyl radical enzyme p-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase. A small subunit, HpdC, is essential for catalytic activity. Eur. J. Biochem. 271 (2004) 2225-2230. [PMID: 15153112]