Glycosyltransferase

Glycosyltransferase (pronunciation: gly·co·syl·trans·fer·ase) is a type of enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of sugar residues from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule. The process is known as glycosylation.

Etymology

The term "Glycosyltransferase" is derived from the Greek words "glykys" meaning sweet, "trans" meaning across, and "ferre" meaning to carry. Thus, the term literally means "to carry sugar across".

Function

Glycosyltransferases play a crucial role in the synthesis of carbohydrates, glycoproteins, and glycolipids. They are involved in the process of cell signaling, cell adhesion, and immune response. They are also responsible for the post-translational modifications of proteins and lipids.

Classification

Glycosyltransferases are classified into two main types based on the type of glycosidic bond they form: inverting and retaining. Inverting glycosyltransferases form a bond with an opposite anomeric configuration to the donor sugar, while retaining glycosyltransferases form a bond with the same anomeric configuration.

Related Terms

Glycosylation: The process by which glycosyltransferases add sugar residues to proteins or lipids.
Enzyme: A protein that catalyzes a specific biochemical reaction.
Carbohydrate: A type of organic compound consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.
Glycoprotein: A type of protein that has sugar molecules attached to it.
Glycolipid: A type of lipid that has sugar molecules attached to it.
Cell signaling: The process by which cells communicate with each other.
Cell adhesion: The process by which cells interact and attach to each other.
Immune response: The body's defense mechanism against foreign substances or pathogens.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Glycosyltransferase
Wikipedia's article - Glycosyltransferase

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Glycosyltransferase