ANE2

ANE2 refers to a family of enzymes known as amino-nucleoside epimerase 2, a designation used in biochemistry and genomics to describe proteins assumed to participate in nucleotide metabolism. Members of the ANE2 family are found across bacteria, archaea, plants, and some fungi, indicating an ancient and broadly conserved role in cellular metabolism. The enzymes are typically soluble cytosolic proteins of modest size and are often studied as part of the nucleotide salvage network that recycles nucleosides for nucleotide synthesis.

The proposed function of ANE2 enzymes is to catalyze stereochemical inversions on certain nucleoside or nucleotide substrates, enabling interconversion between epimers that feed into kinase- and phosphoribosylation-based pathways. This activity broadens the pool of usable substrates for nucleotide biosynthesis and repair, particularly under conditions of nutrient limitation or stress. Most characterized members are thought to require a divalent metal ion as a cofactor and possess a conserved active-site motif that coordinates substrate binding and catalysis.

Genomic and structural context supports a role for ANE2 in coordinated nucleotide metabolism. In many organisms, ANE2 genes are found in operons or gene clusters with nucleoside transporters, kinases, or other enzymes of salvage and remodeling pathways, and structural studies on several homologs reveal a compact, predominantly alpha/beta fold that commonly forms homodimers or small oligomers.

Evolutionarily, ANE2 appears to be an ancient enzyme with lineage-specific duplications and diversification, consistent with the varied demands of nucleotide metabolism across taxa. In biotechnology and medicine, ANE2 enzymes are investigated for their potential use in synthesizing nucleoside analogs and as targets for antimicrobial strategies.