Decarboxylation of aspartate is the major route of beta-alanine production in bacteria, and is catalysed by the enzyme aspartate decarboxylase EC:4.1.1.11 which requires a pyruvoyl group for its activity. It is synthesised initially as a proenzyme which is then proteolytically cleaved to an alpha (C-terminal) and beta (N-terminal) subunit and a pyruvoyl group. This family contains both chains of aspartate decarboxylase.

1: Crystal structure of aspartate decarboxylase at 2.2 A resolution provides evidence for an ester in protein self-processing. Albert A, Dhanaraj V, Genschel U, Khan G, Ramjee MK, Pulido R, Sibanda BL, von Delft F, Witty M, Blundell TL, Smith AG, Abell C; Nat Struct Biol 1998;5:289-293. PMID:9546220