UDP-arabinose 4-epimerase

In enzymology, an UDP-arabinose 4-epimerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * UDP-L-arabinose $$\rightleftharpoons$$ UDP-D-xylose

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, UDP-L-arabinose, and one product, UDP-D-xylose.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those racemases and epimerases acting on carbohydrates and derivatives. The systematic name of this enzyme class is UDP-L-arabinose 4-epimerase. Other names in common use include uridine diphosphoarabinose epimerase, UDP arabinose epimerase, uridine 5'-diphosphate-D-xylose 4-epimerase, and UDP-D-xylose 4-epimerase. This enzyme participates in nucleotide sugars metabolism.