Involved in the degradation of carbazole, a toxic N-heterocyclic aromatic compound containing dibenzopyrrole system. Catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of a carbon-carbon bond of 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-(2'-aminophenyl)hexa-2,4-dienoic acid (HOPDA) to yield anthranilate. CarC is specific for 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid (6-phenyl-HODA), and has little activity toward 2-hydroxy-6-oxohepta-2,4-dienoic acid and 2-hydroxymuconic semialdehyde. The effect of the presence of an amino group or hydroxyl group at the 2'-position of phenyl moiety of 6-phenyl-HODA on the enzyme activity is found to be small. (2E,4E)-6-(2-aminophenyl)-2-hydroxy-6-oxohexa-2,4-dienoate + H2O = (2E)-2-hydroxypenta-2,4-dienoate + anthranilate + H(+) kcat is 2.14 sec(-1) for 6-phenyl-HODA (at 50 mM sodium phosphate, pH 7.5, 25 degrees Celsius). Optimum pH is between 7.0 and 7.5. Optimum temperature is 58 degrees Celsius. Xenobiotic degradation; carbazole degradation. Homodimer. Belongs to the DmpD/TodF/XylF esterase family.