Catalysis of the reaction: citrate = isocitrate. The reaction occurs in two steps: (1) citrate = cis-aconitate + H2O, (2) cis-aconitate + H2O = isocitrate. This reaction is the interconversion of citrate and isocitrate via the labile, enzyme-bound intermediate cis-aconitate. Water is removed from one part of the citrate molecule and added back to a different atom to form isocitrate.
cis-aconitase activity