MJ0684 from Methanococcus jannaschii is a hypothetical protein belonging to the subfamily Ig of amino acid aminotransferases. In the present study, the crystal structure of MJ0684 has been determined at 2.2 resolution. It reveals that MJ0684 has an overall structure similar to subfamily Ig aminotransferases and its active site architecture is most similar to that of kynurenine aminotransferases among several kinds of aminotransferases in the subfamily Ig?. It has two hydrophobic active site residues conserved in the kynurenine aminotransferases for recognizing hydrophobic substrates. In addition, the absence of any basic residue for recognizing the side chain carboxylic group of the aspartate in the active site rules out the possibility that MJ0684 would act as an aspartate aminotransferase. These structural observations collectively imply that MJ0684 is a novel archaeal homolog of the subfamily Ig kynurenine aminotransferase.