Epimerases and racemases are isomerase enzymes that catalyze the inversion of stereochemistry in biological molecules.[1] Racemases catalyze the stereochemical inversion around the asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having only one center of asymmetry. Epimerases catalyze the stereochemical inversion of the configuration about an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate having more than one center of asymmetry, thus interconverting epimers.
Human epimerases include methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase, involved in the metabolic breakdown of the amino acids alanine, isoleucine, methionine and valine,[2] and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase, which is used in the final step of galactose metabolism - catalyzing the reversible conversion of UDP-galactose to UDP-glucose.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Tanner, ME. (2002). "Understanding nature's strategies for enzyme-catalyzed racemization and epimerization". Acc. Chem. Res. 35 (4): 237–246. doi:10.1021/ar000056y. PMID 11955052.
- ^ "Isomerase | enzyme | Britannica".
External links[edit]
- http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/racemase
- http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/epimerase
- Entry+Term+Epimerases at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
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