This enzyme belongs to the family of lyases, specifically the aldehyde-lyases, which cleave carbon-carbon bonds. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-galactonate-6-phosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase (pyruvate-forming). Other names in common use include 6-phospho-2-keto-3-deoxygalactonate aldolase, phospho-2-keto-3-deoxygalactonate aldolase, 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonic aldolase, phospho-2-keto-3-deoxygalactonic aldolase, 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogalactonic acid aldolase, (KDPGal)aldolase, 2-dehydro-3-deoxy-D-galactonate-6-phosphate, and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase. This enzyme participates in galactose metabolism.
Structural studies
As of late 2007, two structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 2V81 and 2V82.
