Protein farnesyltransferase

In enzymology, a protein farnesyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * farnesyl diphosphate + protein-cysteine $$\rightleftharpoons$$ S-farnesyl protein + diphosphate

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are farnesyl diphosphate and protein-cysteine, whereas its two products are S-farnesyl protein and diphosphate.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases, specifically those transferring aryl or alkyl groups other than methyl groups. The systematic name of this enzyme class is farnesyl-diphosphate:protein-cysteine farnesyltransferase. This enzyme is also called FTase.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 15 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , , , , , , , , , , and.