enzymology Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

, a methyl-ONN-azoxymethanol beta-D-glucosyltransferase () is an

enzyme Enzymes () are proteins that act as biological catalysts by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different molecules known as products. A ...

that catalyzes the

chemical reaction A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the IUPAC nomenclature for organic transformations, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Classically, chemical reactions encompass changes that only involve the pos ...

:UDP-glucose + methyl-ONN-azoxymethanol

\rightleftharpoons

UDP + cycasin Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are

UDP-glucose Uridine diphosphate glucose (uracil-diphosphate glucose, UDP-glucose) is a nucleotide sugar. It is involved in glycosyltransferase reactions in metabolism. Functions UDP-glucose is used in nucleotide sugar metabolism as an activated form of glu ...

and

methyl-ONN-azoxymethanol Methylazoxymethanol acetate, MAM, is a neurotoxin which reduces DNA synthesis used in making animal models of neurological diseases including schizophrenia and epilepsy. MAM is found in cycad seeds, and causes zamia staggers. It selectively targe ...

, whereas its two

products Product may refer to: Business * Product (business), an item that serves as a solution to a specific consumer problem. * Product (project management), a deliverable or set of deliverables that contribute to a business solution Mathematics * Produ ...

are UDP and

cycasin Cycasin is a carcinogenic and neurotoxic glucoside found in cycads such as ''Cycas revoluta'' and ''Zamia pumila''. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, seizures, and hepatotoxicity. In metabolic conditions, cycasin is hydrol ...

. This enzyme belongs to the family of

glycosyltransferase Glycosyltransferases (GTFs, Gtfs) are enzymes ( EC 2.4) that establish natural glycosidic linkages. They catalyze the transfer of saccharide moieties from an activated nucleotide sugar (also known as the "glycosyl donor") to a nucleophilic glycos ...

s, specifically the hexosyltransferases. The

systematic name A systematic name is a name given in a systematic way to one unique group, organism, object or chemical substance, out of a specific population or collection. Systematic names are usually part of a nomenclature. A semisystematic name or semitrivial ...

of this enzyme class is UDP-glucose:methyl-ONN-azoxymethanol beta-D-glucosyltransferase. Other names in common use include cycasin synthase, uridine diphosphoglucose-methylazoxymethanol glucosyltransferase, and UDP-glucose-methylazoxymethanol glucosyltransferase.

References

* EC 2.4.1 Enzymes of unknown structure {{2.4-enzyme-stub