4-hydroxyphenylacetate decarboxylase small subunit

UniProtKB accession:  Q38HX3

Grouped By:  Matching UniProtKB accession

UniProtKB description:  Component of the HPA decarboxylase that decarboxylates phenylacetates with a hydroxyl group in the p-position. Active toward 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetate, forming 4-methylphenol and 4-methylcatechol, respectively. Is likely involved in the catabolism of aromatic amino acids such as tyrosine fermentation. 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) formation provides metabolic toxicity, which allows an active suppression of other microbes and may provide growth advantages for the producers in highly competitive environments (PubMed:16878993). The small subunit is essential for enzymatic activity of HPA decarboxylase, and also seems to be involved in the regulation of the enzyme oligomeric state and catalytic activity (By similarity).