transferase

n.
Any of various enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a chemical group, such as a phosphate or amine, from one molecule to another.

n

Any of a group of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a chemical group or radical from one molecule to another.

An enzyme that catalyzes the transfer, from one molecule to another, of a chemical group that does not exist in free state during the transfer.

• gamma glutamyl t. (GGT) — found in the cell membrane in most tissues, but particularly high levels are present in liver (bile duct cells, hepatocytes) and kidney (renal convoluted tubular cells). Increased serum levels occur primarily with cholestasis.
• glucuronyl t. — enzyme which converts bilirubin to a soluble glucuronide.
• glutathione S-t's — widely distributed enzymes catalyzing the detoxification of many compounds but particularly xenobiotics by linkage of the cysteine moiety of glutathione with the compound.
• ornithine carbamoyl t. (OCT) — catalyzes the transfer of carbamoyl, as from carbamoylphosphate to l-ornithine to form orthophosphate and citrulline in the synthesis of urea. Found almost exclusively in the liver. Determination of serum levels is used as an indicator of hepatocellular damage, particularly in cattle, sheep and pigs.
• peptidyl t. — a ribosomal enzyme that transfers the growing peptide from its carrier tRNA to the α-amino group of the amino acid residue of the aminoacyl-tRNA specified by the next codon of the mRNA.

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