Definition
noun, plural: transferases
(biochemistry) An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a functional group from one molecule to another
Supplement
An enzyme is a catalyst or a chemical produced by cells to speed up a biochemical reaction. It is usually a protein molecule with a characteristic sequence of amino acids that fold to produce a specific three-dimensional structure, which gives the molecule unique properties. Other molecule with catalytic activity is ribozyme, an enzyme made of RNA rather than protein. Enzymes may be classified and named according to the reaction they catalyze: (1) oxidoreductases, (2) transferases, (3) lyases, (4) isomerases, and (6) ligases.
Transferases are enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a functional group from one molecule to another. An example is acyl transferases that catalyze the transfer of acyl groups. An example is the peptidyl transferase. This enzyme transfers an amino acid from the tRNA molecule during the translation of protein biosynthesis. Transferases are classified into subclasses according to the EC Number classification: EC 2.1 (e.g. methyltransferase), EC 2.2 (e.g. transketolase), EC 2.3 (e.g. acyltransferase), EC 2.4 (e.g. glycosyltransferase), EC 2.5 (e.g. riboflavin synthase), EC 2.6 (e.g. transaminase), EC 2.7 (e.g. kinases), EC 2.8 (e.g. sulfurtransferase), EC 2.9 (e.g. selenotransferase), and EC 2.10 (e.g. molybdenumtransferase).
See also:
Dictionary > Transferase
