Benzoate CoA ligase (BCL) and 4-Hydroxybenzoate-Coenzyme A Ligase (4-HBA-CoA ligase)
Benzoate CoA ligase and 4-hydroxybenzoate-coenzyme A ligase catalyze the first activating step for benzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate catabolic pathways, respectively. Although these two enzymes share very high sequence homology, they have their own substrate preference. The reaction proceeds via a two-step process; the first ATP-dependent step forms the substrate-AMP intermediate, while the second step forms the acyl-CoA ester, releasing the AMP. Aromatic compounds represent the second most abundant class of organic carbon compounds after carbohydrates. Some bacteria can use benzoic acid or benzenoid compounds as the sole source of carbon and energy through degradation. Benzoate CoA ligase and 4-hydroxybenzoate-Coenzyme A ligase are key enzymes of this process.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",