Aliphatic nitrilase

In enzymology, an aliphatic nitrilase also known as aliphatic nitrile aminohydrolase (EC 3.5.5.7) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of nitriles to carboxylic acids:

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are an aliphatic nitrile (R-CN) and H₂O, whereas its two products are a carboxylic acid (R-COOH) and NH₃.

This enzyme belongs to the family of hydrolases, those acting on carbon-nitrogen bonds other than peptide bonds, specifically in nitriles. This enzyme participates in styrene degradation.