Synthetase
As synthetase are enzymes from the class of ligases referred to in the ligation, a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) as ATP columns. With this name the " synthesizing " (generating) role is emphasized, thus a participation in anabolism .
With a similar motivation, the term synthase is commonly used for any - and thus also nucleoside triphosphate-independent - enzymes that catalyze a link between two molecules, provided that the linkage represents the more important reaction direction.
Because of the similarity of the terms synthase and synthetase , this name is no longer recommended by the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry (NC-IUB). Instead, the name ligase is suggested. The older synonymous form of the name synthetase may, however, continue to be used - even if nucleoside triphosphates other than ATP are involved, for example GTP - by authors who do not share these concerns. The occasional spelling Synthease can be understood as a further synonym for this. For historical reasons, the older names usually include ATP as the most important NTP.
Web links
- NCB-IUBMB Enzyme Classification and Nomenclature (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ JCBN / NC-IUB Newsletter 1984: Synthases and Ligases (English)
- ↑ Entry on Ligase in Flexikon , a Wiki of the DocCheck company