NHase catalyzes the hydration of various nitrile compounds to the corresponding amides. Industrial production of acrylamide is now being developed using some of the enzymes of this class. an aliphatic amide = a nitrile + H2O Binds 1 Fe(3+) ion per subunit. Inactivated by nitrosylation of the iron center in the dark and activated by photo-induced nitric oxide (NO) release. Inactivated by oxidation of Cys-115 to a sulfenic acid. Heterodimer of an alpha and a beta chain. Oxidation on Cys-113 is essential for the activity. Oxidation on Cys-115 stabilizes the Fe-NO ligand coordinated in the inactive form. Belongs to the nitrile hydratase subunit alpha family.