4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Isoform-1 is an Fe-containing enzyme, which catalyzes the second reaction in the catabolism of tyrosine the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate to homogentisate. Present as a homodimer, HPD uses zinc as a cofactor to catalyze the third step in the conversion of L-phenylalanine to fumarate and acetoacetic acid. Flaws in the gene encoding HPD result in tyrosinemia type 3 and hawkinsinuria, two inborn defects of metabolism which are related to a number of symptoms, like mental retardation and seizures and hair and urine abnormalities.
HPD produced in E.Coli is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 413 amino acids (1-393a.a.) and having a molecular mass of 47kDa.
HPD is fused to a 20 amino acid His-tag at N-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.