Catalyzes the irreversible transamination of the L-tryptophan metabolite L-kynurenine to form kynurenic acid (KA) (PubMed:12110301, PubMed:15556614). Also catalyzes the irreversible transamination of several amino acids including cysteine, tyrosine, glutamine, methionine, histidine and phenylalanine (PubMed:15556614). Can use various keto-acids as the amino group acceptor (PubMed:15556614, PubMed:12110301). L-kynurenine + pyruvate = H2O + kynurenate + L-alanine 2-oxoglutarate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-glutamate glyoxylate + L-kynurenine = glycine + H2O + kynurenate 2-oxobutanoate + L-kynurenine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + H2O + kynurenate 2-oxobutanoate + L-cysteine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 2-oxo-3-sulfanylpropanoate 2-oxobutanoate + L-tyrosine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate 2-oxobutanoate + L-glutamine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 2-oxoglutaramate 2-oxobutanoate + L-methionine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxobutanoate 2-oxobutanoate + L-histidine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 3-(imidazol-5-yl)pyruvate 2-oxobutanoate + L-phenylalanine = (2S)-2-aminobutanoate + 3-phenylpyruvate indole-3-pyruvate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-tryptophan 2-oxohexanoate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-2-aminohexanoate 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-leucine 2-oxopentanoate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-2-aminopentanoate L-kynurenine + oxaloacetate = H2O + kynurenate + L-aspartate 3-phenylpyruvate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-phenylalanine 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)pyruvate + L-kynurenine = H2O + kynurenate + L-tyrosine Competitive inhibition of L-kynurenine transamination by glutamine, methionine and histidine but not by tyrosine and phenylalanine (PubMed:15556614). Cysteine concentration between 0.31-2.5 mM increases L-kynurenine transamination while concentration above 2.5 mM inhibits L-kynurenine transamination (PubMed:15556614). Keto-acids as amino acceptors modulate the transamination activity toward L-kynurenine (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 206 min(-1) for cysteine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 139 min(-1) for tyrosine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 561 min(-1) for glutamine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 163 min(-1) for methionine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 168 min(-1) for histidine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 283 min(-1) for cysteine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 172 min(-1) for kynurenine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 230 min(-1) for asparagine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 283 min(-1) for tryptophan (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 758 min(-1) for leucine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 345 min(-1) for serine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 1540 min(-1) for alanine (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with ketobutyrate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). kcat is 317 min(-1) for amino-butyrate (at 45 degrees Celsius, at pH 8.5 and with pyruvate as cosubstrate) (PubMed:15556614). Optimum pH is 8.5 and 10 (with pyruvate as cosubstrate). Optimum temperature is 60 degrees Celsius (at pH 8.5 and with pyruvate as cosubstrate). Amino-acid degradation; L-kynurenine degradation; kynurenate from L-kynurenine: step 1/2. Homodimer. Expressed in developing ovaries (PubMed:12110301). Expressed at high levels in the head (PubMed:12110301). Expressed in larvae, pupae and adults (PubMed:12110301). Expressed at low levels in larvae, then expression increases at the beginning of pupal development to reach high expression levels in adults (PubMed:12110301). Belongs to the class-I pyridoxal-phosphate-dependent aminotransferase family. X-ray structure in 1YIZ has been refined and redeposited in 5VEH.