Contains thiamine diphosphate and [4Fe-4S] clusters. Preferentially utilizes the transaminated forms of aromatic amino acids and can use phenylpyruvate and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate as substrates. This enzyme, which is found in archaea, is a member of the 2-oxoacid oxidoreductases, a family of enzymes that oxidatively decarboxylate different 2-oxoacids to form their CoA derivatives, and are differentiated based on their substrate specificity. For examples of other members of this family, see EC 1.2.7.3, 2-oxoglutarate synthase and EC 1.2.7.7, 3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate dehydrogenase (ferredoxin).
