Transferase

In biochemistry, a transferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a functional group (e.g. a methyl or phosphate group) from one molecule (called the donor) to another (called the acceptor). For example, an enzyme that catalyzed this reaction would be a transferase:

:A–X + B → A + B–X

In this example, A would be the donor, and B would be the acceptor. The donor is often a coenzyme.

Nomenclature

Proper names of transferases are formed as "donor:acceptor grouptransferase." However, other names are much more common. The common names of transferases are often formed as "acceptor grouptransferase" or "donor grouptransferase." For example, a DNA methyltransferase is a transferase that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group to a DNA acceptor.

Classification

Transferases are classified as EC 2 in the EC number classification. Transferases can be further classified into nine subclasses:
* includes enzymes that transfer one-carbon groups (methyltransferase)
* includes enzymes that transfer aldehyde or ketone groups
* includes acyltransferases
* includes glycosyltransferases
* includes enzymes that transfer alkyl or aryl groups, other than methyl groups
* includes enzymes that transfer nitrogenous groups (transaminase)
* includes enzymes that transfer phosphorus-containing groups (phosphotransferase, including polymerase and kinase)
* includes enzymes that transfer sulfur-containing groups (sulfurtransferase and sulfotransferase)
* includes enzymes that transfer selenium-containing groups

References

* [http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/EC2/intro.html EC 2 Introduction] from the Department of Chemistry at Queen Mary, University of London