# Chitin synthase

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{{Short description|Class of enzymes}}
{{infobox enzyme
| Name       = chitin synthase
| EC_number  = 2.4.1.16
| CAS_number = 9030-18-6
| GO_code    = 0004100
| image      =
| width      = 
| caption    =  
}}
In [enzymology](/source/enzymology), a '''chitin synthase''' ({{EC number|2.4.1.16}}) is an [enzyme](/source/enzyme) that [catalyzes](/source/catalysis) the [chemical reaction](/source/chemical_reaction)

:UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine + [1,4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)]n <math>\rightleftharpoons</math> UDP + [1,4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)]n<sup>+</sup>1

Thus, the two [substrates](/source/substrate_(biochemistry)) of this enzyme are [UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine](/source/UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) and [[[1,4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)]n]], whereas its two [products](/source/product_(chemistry)) are [UDP](/source/uridine_diphosphate) and [[[1,4-(N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminyl)]n+1]].

This enzyme belongs to the family of [glycosyltransferase](/source/glycosyltransferase)s, specifically the hexosyltransferases.  The [systematic name](/source/List_of_enzymes) of this enzyme class is '''UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:chitin 4-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase'''. Other names in common use include '''chitin-UDP N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase''', '''chitin-uridine diphosphate acetylglucosaminyltransferase''', '''chitin synthetase''', and '''trans-N-acetylglucosaminosylase'''.  This enzyme participates in [aminosugars metabolism](/source/aminosugars_metabolism).

==Production==
Chitin Synthase is manufactured in the [rough endoplasmic reticulum](/source/rough_endoplasmic_reticulum) of fungi as the inactive form, [zymogen](/source/zymogen). The zymogen is then packaged into chitosomes in the [golgi apparatus](/source/golgi_apparatus). Chitosomes bring the zymogen to the [hyphal](/source/hyphal) tip of a mold or yeast cell membrane. Chitin synthase is placed into the interior side of the cell membrane and then activated.{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}

==Inhibition==
[Benzoylurea](/source/Benzoylurea_insecticide) as well as [other insecticides](/source/Insect_growth_regulator) act as [insect growth regulator](/source/insect_growth_regulator)s by inhibiting this enzyme and thus preventing the formation of [chitin](/source/chitin).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Douris |first1=Vassilis |last2=Steinbach |first2=Denise |last3=Panteleri |first3=Rafaela |last4=Livadaras |first4=Ioannis |last5=Pickett |first5=John Anthony |last6=Van Leeuwen |first6=Thomas |last7=Nauen |first7=Ralf |last8=Vontas |first8=John |title=2016 |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=2016 |volume=113 |issue=51 |pages=14692–14697|doi=10.1073/pnas.1618258113 |doi-access=free |pmid=27930336 |pmc=5187681 }}</ref> They are in [IRAC](/source/Insecticide_Resistance_Action_Committee) [mode of action](/source/mode_of_action) groups 10, 15 and 16.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The IRAC Mode of Action Classification Online |url=https://irac-online.org/mode-of-action/classification-online/ |access-date=7 December 2024 |website=Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC)}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|1}}
* {{cite journal |vauthors=GLASER L, BROWN DH | date = 1957 | title = The synthesis of chitin in cell-free extracts of Neurospora crassa | journal = J. Biol. Chem.  | volume = 228 | pages = 729&ndash;42  | pmid = 13475355 | issue = 2 | doi = 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)70655-8 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal |vauthors=Sburlati A, Cabib E | date = 1986 | title = Chitin synthetase 2, a presumptive participant in septum formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae | journal = J. Biol. Chem.  | volume = 261 | pages = 15147&ndash;52  | pmid = 2945823 | issue = 32 | doi = 10.1016/S0021-9258(18)66844-9 | doi-access = free }}

{{Glycosyltransferases}}
{{Enzymes}}
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{{Authority control}}

Category:EC 2.4.1
Category:Enzymes of unknown structure

{{2.4-enzyme-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chitin synthase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin_synthase) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitin_synthase?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.