From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Classification
Transferases are classified as EC 2 in the EC number classification. Transferases can be further classified into nine subclasses:
[edit] References