Synthase

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In biochemistry, a synthase is an enzyme that catalyses a synthesis process.

Note that, originally, biochemical nomenclature distinguished synthetases and synthases. Under the original definition, synthases do not use energy from nucleoside triphosphates (such as ATP, GTP, CTP, TTP, and UTP), whereas synthetases do use nucleoside triphosphates. However, the Joint Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature (JCBN) dictates that 'synthase' can be used with any enzyme that catalyzes synthesis (whether or not it uses nucleoside triphosphates), whereas 'synthetase' is to be used synonymously with 'ligase'. [1]

Examples

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In biochemistry, a ligase is an enzyme that can catalyze the joining (ligation) of two molecules by forming a new chemical bond. This is typically via hydrolysis of a small pendant chemical group on one of the molecules, typically resulting in the formation of new C-O, C-S, or C-N bonds. For example, DNA ligase can join two complementary fragments of nucleic acid by forming phosphodiester bonds, and repair single stranded breaks that arise in double stranded DNA during replication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nucleotide</span> Biological molecules constituting nucleic acids

Nucleotides are organic molecules composed of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar and a phosphate. They serve as monomeric units of the nucleic acid polymers – deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), both of which are essential biomolecules within all life-forms on Earth. Nucleotides are obtained in the diet and are also synthesized from common nutrients by the liver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guanosine triphosphate</span> Chemical compound

Guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) is a purine nucleoside triphosphate. It is one of the building blocks needed for the synthesis of RNA during the transcription process. Its structure is similar to that of the guanosine nucleoside, the only difference being that nucleotides like GTP have phosphates on their ribose sugar. GTP has the guanine nucleobase attached to the 1' carbon of the ribose and it has the triphosphate moiety attached to ribose's 5' carbon.

A nucleoside triphosphate is a nucleoside containing a nitrogenous base bound to a 5-carbon sugar, with three phosphate groups bound to the sugar. They are the molecular precursors of both DNA and RNA, which are chains of nucleotides made through the processes of DNA replication and transcription. Nucleoside triphosphates also serve as a source of energy for cellular reactions and are involved in signalling pathways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Succinyl coenzyme A synthetase</span> Class of enzymes

Succinyl coenzyme A synthetase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reversible reaction of succinyl-CoA to succinate. The enzyme facilitates the coupling of this reaction to the formation of a nucleoside triphosphate molecule from an inorganic phosphate molecule and a nucleoside diphosphate molecule. It plays a key role as one of the catalysts involved in the citric acid cycle, a central pathway in cellular metabolism, and it is located within the mitochondrial matrix of a cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nucleic acid metabolism</span> Process

Nucleic acid metabolism is a collective term that refers to the variety of chemical reactions by which nucleic acids are either synthesized or degraded. Nucleic acids are polymers made up of a variety of monomers called nucleotides. Nucleotide synthesis is an anabolic mechanism generally involving the chemical reaction of phosphate, pentose sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Degradation of nucleic acids is a catabolic reaction and the resulting parts of the nucleotides or nucleobases can be salvaged to recreate new nucleotides. Both synthesis and degradation reactions require multiple enzymes to facilitate the event. Defects or deficiencies in these enzymes can lead to a variety of diseases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glutathione synthetase</span> Enzyme

Glutathione synthetase (GSS) is the second enzyme in the glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis pathway. It catalyses the condensation of gamma-glutamylcysteine and glycine, to form glutathione. Glutathione synthetase is also a potent antioxidant. It is found in many species including bacteria, yeast, mammals, and plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CTP synthetase</span> Enzyme

CTP synthase is an enzyme involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis that interconverts UTP and CTP.

Purine metabolism refers to the metabolic pathways to synthesize and break down purines that are present in many organisms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMP synthase</span>

Guanosine monophosphate synthetase, also known as GMPS is an enzyme that converts xanthosine monophosphate to guanosine monophosphate.

In enzymology, an alanine—tRNA ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, an aspartate—ammonia ligase (EC 6.3.1.1) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

Carnosine synthase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D-alanine—D-alanine ligase</span> Enzyme belonging to the ligase family

In enzymology, a D-alanine—D-alanine ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, a diphthine—ammonia ligase (EC 6.3.1.14, diphthamide synthase, diphthamide synthetase) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, a glutamate—ethylamine ligase (EC 6.3.1.6) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, a glutamine—tRNA ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, a phosphopantothenate—cysteine ligase also known as phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (PPCS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction which constitutes the second of five steps involved in the conversion of pantothenate to Coenzyme A. The reaction is:

In enzymology, a UDP-N-acetylmuramate—L-alanine ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In enzymology, a UDP-N-acetylmuramoyl-tripeptide—D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

References

  1. "Synthase and ligase". Archived from the original on 2012-10-15. Retrieved 2009-06-02.