Arginine racemase

In enzymology, an arginine racemase (EC 5.1.1.9) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, L-arginine, and one product, D-arginine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those racemases and epimerases acting on amino acids and derivatives. The systematic name of this enzyme class is arginine racemase. This enzyme participates in 3 metabolic pathways: lysine degradation, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, and D-arginine and D-ornithine metabolism. It employs one cofactor, pyridoxal phosphate.