Purification and Properties of β-Alanine Synthase from Calf Liver

β-Alanine synthase (EC 3.5.1.6) catalyzes the conversion of N-carbamyl-β-alanine to β-alanine, ammonia and CO2. The enzyme has been purified to apparent homogeneity from calf liver. The molecular size, pH optimum and substrate specificity have been determined. Sequence alignment of β-alanine synthases with N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase from Agrobacter sp. revealed the conservation of a catalytically important triad Glu-Lys-Cys, most likely involved in the breakdown of N-carbamyl-β-alanine.