Reaction: ATP + L-carnitine + CoA = AMP + diphosphate + L-carnitinyl-CoA
Glossary: carnitine = 3-hydroxy-4-(trimethylammonio)butanoate
crotonobetaine = (E)-4-(trimethylammonio)but-2-enoate
γ-butyrobetaine = 4-(trimethylammonio)butanoate
Other name(s): caiC (gene name)
Systematic name: L-carnitine:CoA ligase (AMP-forming)
Comments: The enzyme, originally characterized from the bacterium Escherichia coli, can catalyse the transfer of CoA to L-carnitine, crotonobetaine and γ-butyrobetaine. In vitro the enzyme also exhibits the activity of EC 2.8.3.21, L-carnitine CoA-transferase.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, CAS registry number:
References:
1. Eichler, K., Bourgis, F., Buchet, A., Kleber, H.P. and Mandrand-Berthelot, M.A. Molecular characterization of the cai operon necessary for carnitine metabolism in Escherichia coli. Mol. Microbiol. 13 (1994) 775-786. [PMID: 7815937]
2. Bernal, V., Arense, P., Blatz, V., Mandrand-Berthelot, M.A., Canovas, M. and Iborra, J.L. Role of betaine:CoA ligase (CaiC) in the activation of betaines and the transfer of coenzyme A in Escherichia coli. J. Appl. Microbiol. 105 (2008) 42-50. [PMID: 18266698]