phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase activity

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Catalysis of the reaction: 10-formyltetrahydrofolate + 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide = tetrahydrofolate + 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-formamido-4-imidazolecarboxamide. [EC:2.1.2.3]

Phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase (AICAR transformylase) catalyzes the transfer of a formyl group from 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (THF) to the N-10 position of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), a key step in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. This reaction is essential for the production of purine nucleotides, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphosphate (GTP), which are vital for a wide range of cellular functions, including energy production, signal transduction, and protein synthesis. The enzyme is highly specific for its substrates, and the reaction mechanism involves the formation of a ternary complex between the enzyme, AICAR, and 10-formylTHF. The enzyme utilizes a catalytic mechanism that involves the transfer of the formyl group from 10-formylTHF to a conserved glutamate residue on the enzyme, followed by the transfer of the formyl group from the glutamate residue to AICAR. This process is crucial for the efficient and precise synthesis of purine nucleotides, and disruptions in the activity of AICAR transformylase can lead to a variety of metabolic disorders.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (9)