UDP-glucosamine 4-epimerase explained

UDP-glucosamine 4-epimerase
Ec Number:	5.1.3.16
Go Code:	0050376

In enzymology, an UDP-glucosamine 4-epimerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

UDP-glucosamine

\rightleftharpoons UDP-galactosamine

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, UDP-glucosamine, and one product, UDP-galactosamine.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those racemases and epimerases acting on carbohydrates and derivatives. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-glucosamine 4-epimerase.

References

• MALEY F, MALEY GF . 1959 . The enzymic conversion of glucosamine to galactosamine . Biochim. Biophys. Acta . 31 . 577 - 8 . 13628700 . 10.1016/0006-3002(59)90047-2 . 2 .
• Silbert JE . Brown DH . 1961 . Enzymic synthesis of uridine diphosphate glucosamine and heparin from [14C]glucosamine by a mouse mast-cell tumor . Biochim. Biophys. Acta . 54 . 590 - 592 . 10.1016/0006-3002(61)90105-6 . 3 . 14039274 .