In
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 ...
, an ornithine(lysine) transaminase () is an
enzyme that
catalyzes
Catalysis () is the process of increasing the rate of a chemical reaction by adding a substance known as a catalyst (). Catalysts are not consumed in the reaction and remain unchanged after it. If the reaction is rapid and the catalyst recyc ...
the
chemical reaction
:L-ornithine + 2-oxoglutarate
3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate + L-glutamate + H
2O
Thus, the two
substrates of this enzyme are
L-ornithine
Ornithine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that plays a role in the urea cycle. Ornithine is abnormally accumulated in the body in ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency. The radical is ornithyl.
Role in urea cycle
L-Ornithine is one of the produc ...
and
2-oxoglutarate, whereas its 3
products are
3,4-dihydro-2H-pyrrole-2-carboxylate,
L-glutamate
Glutamic acid (symbol Glu or E; the ionic form is known as glutamate) is an α-amino acid that is used by almost all living beings in the biosynthesis of proteins. It is a non-essential nutrient for humans, meaning that the human body can synt ...
, and
H2O.
This enzyme belongs to the family of
transferases, specifically the
transaminases
Transaminases or aminotransferases are enzymes that catalyze a transamination reaction between an amino acid and an α-keto acid. They are important in the synthesis of amino acids, which form proteins.
Function and mechanism
An amino acid co ...
, which run really fast to nitrogenous groups. The
systematic name of this enzyme class is L-ornithine:2-oxoglutarate-aminotransferase. Other names in common use include ornithine(lysine) aminotransferase, lysine/ornithine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase, and L-ornithine(L-lysine):2-oxoglutarate-aminotransferase.
References
*
EC 2.6.1
Enzymes of unknown structure
{{2.6-enzyme-stub