Enzymes
Product List
GALE Human
UDP-Galactose-4-Epimerase Human Recombinant
MCEE Human
Methylmalonyl CoA Epimerase Human Recombinant
MCEE is fused to a 21 amino acid His-tag at N-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
RPE Human
Ribulose-5-Phosphate-3-Epimerase Human Recombinant
RPE is fused to a 24 amino acid His-tag at N-terminus & purified by proprietary chromatographic techniques.
Introduction
Epimerases are a subclass of isomerase enzymes that catalyze the inversion of stereochemistry at an asymmetric carbon atom in a substrate with multiple centers of asymmetry, thus interconverting epimers . They are classified under the EC 5.1 subclass, which also includes racemases . Some well-known epimerases include methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase and UDP-glucose 4-epimerase .
Epimerases exhibit diverse biological properties and are found in animals, plants, and microorganisms . They play crucial roles in various metabolic pathways, such as the Leloir pathway, which involves the conversion of galactose to glucose-1-phosphate . The expression patterns and tissue distribution of epimerases vary widely, with some being highly specific to certain tissues or developmental stages .
Epimerases are involved in essential metabolic processes, including carbohydrate metabolism and the biosynthesis of complex molecules . They play a role in immune responses and pathogen recognition by participating in the production of complex carbohydrate polymers used in cell walls and envelopes . For example, bacterial epimerases are potential therapeutic targets for treating bacterial infections .
Epimerases operate through various mechanisms, including deprotonation/reprotonation, transient keto intermediates, and nucleotide elimination . They interact with other molecules and cells by binding to specific substrates and catalyzing stereochemical inversions . Downstream signaling cascades often involve changes in the stereochemistry of hydroxyl substituents, which are crucial for molecular recognition .
The expression and activity of epimerases are regulated through multiple mechanisms, including transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications . For instance, the activity of UDP-GlcNAc 2-epimerase is regulated by feedback inhibition from CMP-Neu5Ac, an allosteric inhibitor . This regulation ensures the proper balance of sialic acid synthesis in vertebrates .
Epimerases have significant applications in biomedical research, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic strategies . They are used in the production of bioactive mono- and oligosaccharides, which have health-promoting properties . Additionally, microbial sugar epimerases are explored for their potential in manufacturing human health products .
