Phosphoribosylamine–glycine ligase (GARS)

Phosphoribosylamine–glycine ligase (GARS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the second step in purine biosynthesis, forming glycinamide ribonucleotide from ATP, 5-phospho-D-ribosylamine, and glycine. This enzymatic action is essential in the nucleotide biosynthesis pathway for both de novo synthesis of DNA and RNA precursors. In bacteria, GARS is a monofunctional enzyme encoded by the purD gene, while in higher eukaryotes, it can be part of multifuncional enzymes with other purine biosynthetic activities[1][2][3][4][5][10]. The human ortholog forms part of a trifunctional complex important for cellular growth and division. This enzyme is a potential antimicrobial drug target due to its essentiality in purine synthesis in microbes[1][7].

Other names

glycinamide ribonucleotide synthetaseGAR synthetasephosphoribosylglycinamide synthetaseglycineamide ribonucleotide synthetase2-amino-N-ribosylacetamide 5'-phosphate kinosynthase5'-phosphoribosylglycinamide synthetase