Nucleotidyltransferase (NTase)

Nucleotidyltransferases (EC 2.7.7) are a large and diverse superfamily of enzymes that catalyze the transfer of a nucleoside monophosphate group from a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) to a nucleophilic acceptor, such as the 3'-hydroxyl group of a nucleic acid, a protein, or a small molecule [1][2]. This class includes critical biological components such as DNA polymerases, RNA polymerases, and specialized enzymes like terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) and cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) [2][3]. In human physiology, these enzymes are vital for genome maintenance and immune signaling, particularly through the cGAS-STING pathway which detects cytosolic DNA [4]. From a pharmacological perspective, nucleotidyltransferases are among the most successful therapeutic targets, especially in virology; many antiviral drugs are nucleoside analogs that act as competitive inhibitors or chain terminators of viral polymerases (e.g., Sofosbuvir for Hepatitis C) [5]. The target is also a focus in oncology and immunology, where inhibitors of specific nucleotidyltransferases like cGAS are being developed to treat autoimmune disorders and enhance cancer immunotherapy [4]. The term provided in the prompt, 'Nucleotityltransferase', is a misspelling of the canonical enzyme class name 'Nucleotidyltransferase' [1].

Other names

Nucleotidyl transferaseNTP transferaseNucleoside monophosphate transferaseNucleotidyltransferase domain-containing protein

Inhibition of nucleotide transfer through competitive binding at the catalytic site or chain termination following incorporation into a nascent nucleic acid strand.