transketolase

A transferase bringing about the reversible interconversion of sedoheptulose 7-phosphate and d-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to produce d-ribose 5-phosphate and d-xylulose 5-phosphate, and also other similar reactions, such as hydroxypyruvate and an aldehyde into CO₂ and an extended hydroxypyruvate; a part of the nonoxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway. SEE ALSO: transaldolase. SYN: glycolaldehydetransferase.

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trans·ke·tol·ase .tran(t)s-'kēt-ȯl-.ās, -.āz n an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of the ketonic residue HOCH₂CO- from the phosphate of xylulose to that of ribose to form the phosphate of sedoheptulose

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trans·ke·to·lase (trans-keґto-lās) [EC 2.2.1.1] an enzyme of the transferase class that catalyzes the transfer to aldose phosphates of glycolaldehyde groups from specific ketose phosphates, reactions that occur in the pentose phosphate pathway. The enzyme contains thiamine pyrophosphate and Mg²⁺ and has displayed reduced thiamine-binding capacity in patients with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.