Chalcone isomerase


In enzymology, a chalcone isomerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction
Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, a chalcone, and one product, a flavanone.
This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically the class of intramolecular lyases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is flavanone lyase . This enzyme is also called chalcone-flavanone isomerase. This enzyme participates in flavonoid biosynthesis.
The Petunia hybrida genome contains two genes coding for very similar enzymes, ChiA and ChiB, but only the first seems to encode a functional chalcone isomerase.

Structural studies

As of late 2007, 7 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes,,,,,, and.
Chalcone isomerase has a core 2-layer alpha/beta structure consisting of beta-alpha-beta-alpha-beta.