The glyoxylate cycle is an important anabolic pathway and acts under a C-2 compound (such as acetic acid) rich condition in bacteria. The isocitrate lyase (ICL) enzyme catalyzes the first step in the glyoxylate cycle, which is the cleavage of isocitrate to glyoxylate and succinate. This enzyme is a metalo-enzyme that contains an Mg2+ or a Mn(2+)ion at the active site for enzyme catalysis. We expressed and purified ICL from Bacillus cereus (BcICL) and investigated its biochemical properties and metal usage through its enzyme activity and stability with various divalent metal ion. Based on the results, BcICL mainly utilized the Mg2+ ion for enzyme catalysis as well as the Mn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+ ions. To elucidate its molecular mechanisms, we determined the crystal structure of BcICL at 1.79 angstrom. Through this structure, we analyzed a tetrameric interaction of the protein. We also determined the BcICL structure in complex with both the metal and its products, glyoxylate and succinate at 2.50 angstrom resolution and revealed each ligand binding modes. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.