InterPro domain: IPR044855

CoA-transferases are found in organisms from all kingdoms of life. They catalyse reversible transfer reactions of coenzyme A groups from CoA-thioesters to free acids. There are at least three families of CoA-transferases, which differ in sequence and reaction mechanism:

• Family I consists of CoA-transferases for 3-oxoacids ( 2.8.3.5 , 2.8.3.6 ), short-chain fatty acids ( 2.8.3.8 , 2.8.3.9 ) and glutaconate ( 2.8.3.12 ). Most use succinyl-CoA or acetyl-CoA as CoA donors.
• Family II consists of the homodimeric alpha-subunits of citrate lyase and citramalate lyase ( 2.8.3.10 , 2.8.3.11 ). These enzymes catalyse the transfer of acyl carrier protein (ACP) with a covalently bound CoA derivative, but can accept free CoA thioesters as well.
• Family III consists of formyl-CoA:oxalate CoA-transferase [ 1 ], succinyl-CoA:(R)-benzylsuccinate CoA-transferase [ 2 ], (E)-cinnamoyl-CoA:(R)-phenyllactate CoA-transferase [ 3 ], succinyl-CoA:mesaconate CoA-transferase [ 4 ] and butyrobetainyl-CoA:(R)-carnitine CoA-transferase [ 5 ]. These CoA-transferases occur in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and catalyse CoA-transfer reactions in a highly substrate- and stereo-specific manner [ 6 ].

This superfamily represents the small domain (domain 3) of family III CoA-transferases [ 7 ].

1. Kinetic and mechanistic characterization of the formyl-CoA transferase from Oxalobacter formigenes. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 36003-12
2. Succinyl-CoA:(R)-benzylsuccinate CoA-transferase: an enzyme of the anaerobic toluene catabolic pathway in denitrifying bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 183, 4288-95
3. The involvement of coenzyme A esters in the dehydration of (R)-phenyllactate to (E)-cinnamate by Clostridium sporogenes. Eur. J. Biochem. 267, 3874-84
4. Succinyl-CoA:Mesaconate CoA-Transferase and Mesaconyl-CoA Hydratase, Enzymes of the Methylaspartate Cycle in Haloarcula hispanica. Front Microbiol 8, 1683
5. Crystal structure of Escherichia coli crotonobetainyl-CoA: carnitine CoA-transferase (CaiB) and its complexes with CoA and carnitinyl-CoA. Biochemistry 44, 5728-38
6. A new family of CoA-transferases. FEBS Lett. 509, 345-9
7. Function and X-ray crystal structure of Escherichia coli YfdE. PLoS One 8, e67901