Transferase (EC 2) (EC 2)

Transferases are a major class of enzymes, designated as EC 2 in the IUBMB nomenclature, that catalyze the transfer of a functional group (e.g., methyl, acyl, phosphate, or glycosyl) from one molecule to another (IUBMB, 2023). This broad category includes critical therapeutic targets such as protein kinases, which regulate cellular signaling through phosphorylation, and methyltransferases, which are essential for epigenetic regulation (NCBI, 2022). Because transferases are involved in nearly every aspect of cellular physiology, including metabolism, gene expression, and protein maturation, they are frequently implicated in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration (StatPearls, 2023). Pharmacological agents targeting transferases, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors or DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, work by blocking the enzyme's active site or preventing the binding of the donor substrate (PubChem, 2024). However, the term "Transferase" is a high-level classification rather than a specific protein; it encompasses thousands of distinct enzymes with diverse structures and biological roles. Consequently, while many individual transferases are validated drug targets, the category as a whole is too broad for specific therapeutic characterization, requiring more granular identification for drug discovery purposes (Wikipedia, 2024).

Other names

EC 2TransferasesGroup transferase

Transferases facilitate the movement of a chemical group from a donor substrate to an acceptor substrate; drugs typically act as competitive or non-competitive inhibitors to block this transfer, thereby modulating downstream signaling or metabolic pathways (PubChem, 2024).