A multifunctional pyridoxal-phosphate protein. The enzyme cleaves a carbon-sulfur bond, releasing L-cysteine and an unstable enamine product that tautomerizes to an imine form, which undergoes a hydrolytic deamination to form 2-oxobutanoate and ammonia. The latter reaction, which can occur spontaneously, can also be catalysed by EC
3.5.99.10, 2-iminobutanoate/2-iminopropanoate deaminase. Also catalyses the conversion of L-homoserine to 2-oxobutanoate and ammonia, of L-cystine to thiocysteine, pyruvate and ammonia, and of L-cysteine to pyruvate, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.
