1,4-beta-D-xylan synthase

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In enzymology, a 1,4-beta-D-xylan synthase (EC 2.4.2.24) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction

UDP-D-xylose + (1,4-beta-D-xylan)n ${\displaystyle \rightleftharpoons }$ UDP + (1,4-beta-D-xylan)n⁺1

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are UDP-D-xylose and (1,4-beta-D-xylan)n, whereas its two products are UDP and (1,4-beta-D-xylan)n+1.

This enzyme belongs to the family of glycosyltransferases, specifically the pentosyltransferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-D-xylose:1,4-beta-D-xylan 4-beta-D-xylosyltransferase. Other names in common use include uridine diphosphoxylose-1,4-beta-xylan xylosyltransferase, 1,4-beta-xylan synthase, xylan synthase, and xylan synthetase. This enzyme participates in starch and sucrose metabolism and nucleotide sugars metabolism.

• Bailey RW, Hassid WZ (November 1966). "Xylan synthesis from uridine-diphosphate-d-xylose by particulate preparations from immature corncobs". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 56 (5): 1586–93. Bibcode:1966PNAS...56.1586B. doi:10.1073/pnas.56.5.1586. PMC 220039. PMID 16591393.