Glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase--the multi-facets enzyme

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2002 Jun 3;1597(2):173-92. doi: 10.1016/s0167-4838(02)00318-7.

Abstract

L-Glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase, known under trivial name of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase, as the only member of the amidotransferase subfamily of enzymes, does not display any ammonia-dependent activity. This enzyme, catalysing the first committed step in a pathway leading to the eventual formation of uridine 5'-diphospho-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), is an important point of metabolic control in biosynthesis of amino sugar-containing macromolecules. The molecular mechanism of reaction catalysed by GlcN-6-P synthase is complex and involves both amino transfer and sugar isomerisation. Substantial alterations to the enzyme structure and properties have been detected in different neoplastic tissues. GlcN-6-P synthase is inflicted in phenomenon of hexosamine-induced insulin resistance in diabetes. Finally, this enzyme has been proposed as a promising target in antifungal chemotherapy. Most of these issues, especially their molecular aspects, have been extensively studied in recent years. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the present knowledge on this multi-facets enzyme.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteria / enzymology
  • Catalysis
  • Diabetes Mellitus / enzymology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / chemistry
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / genetics
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing) / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / enzymology
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Ulcer / enzymology

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Glutamine-Fructose-6-Phosphate Transaminase (Isomerizing)
  • Glucose