Carboxy-lyases, also known as decarboxylases, are carbon–carbon lyases that add or remove a carboxyl group from organic compounds. These enzymes catalyze the decarboxylation of amino acids, beta-keto acids and alpha-keto acids. [1]
Carboxy-lyases are categorized under EC number 4.1.1. [2] Usually, they are named after the substrate whose decarboxylation they catalyze, for example pyruvate decarboxylase catalyzes the decarboxylation of pyruvate.