Trasferasi

Trasferasi is a term used in biochemistry to denote the enzymes of the transferase class (EC 2), which catalyze the transfer of a functional group from one molecule (the donor) to another (the acceptor). This broad enzyme family includes aminotransferases, glycosyltransferases, methyltransferases, acyltransferases and many others, each facilitating transfer of specific groups such as amino, sugar, methyl, or acyl groups. Such reactions are central to metabolism, enabling amino acid synthesis and degradation, nucleotide biosynthesis, lipid modification, and various post-translational modifications.

In many Romance-language texts, including Italian, the term trasferasi is used to refer to this class of enzymes, with transferase serving as the English equivalent. Biochemically, transferases often require cofactors and operate through mechanisms that can be either sequential (one substrate at a time) or ping-pong, depending on the subgroup. They are distinguished from other enzyme classes by their function: moving a functional group rather than altering the core skeleton of the molecule.

Clinical and biotechnological relevance is broad. Abnormal transferase activity is implicated in metabolic disorders and cancer, and these enzymes play a key role in drug metabolism. Biotechnological applications exploit transferases to synthesize complex molecules, including glycosylated compounds and modified nucleotides.

See also: Enzyme Commission numbers, Transferase family, Metabolic pathways.