Phthalimido is a stable protecting group in beta-lactam chemistry but no conventional chemical methods effectively removes this group. xanag-pham catalyzes the removal of the phthalyl group from phthalyl amides generating phthalate and an amine. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity and hydrolyzes phthalylated amino acids, peptides, beta-lactams, aromatic and aliphatic amines; substitutions allowed on the phthalyl group include 6-F, 6-NH2, 3-OH, and a nitrogen in the aromatic ring ortho to the carboxy group attached to the amine.