Phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase

In enzymology, a phosphoribosylaminoimidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * 10-formyltetrahydrofolate + 5-amino-1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide $$\rightleftharpoons$$ tetrahydrofolate + 5-formamido-1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide

Thus, the two substrates of this enzyme are 10-formyltetrahydrofolate and 5-amino-1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide, whereas its two products are tetrahydrofolate and 5-formamido-1-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide.

This enzyme belongs to the family of transferases that transfer one-carbon groups, specifically the hydroxymethyl-, formyl- and related transferases. The systematic name of this enzyme class is 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:5'-phosphoribosyl-5-amino-4-imidazole-carb oxamide N-formyltransferase. Other names in common use include 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase, AICAR transformylase, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate:5'-phosphoribosyl-5-amino-4-, imidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase, 5'-phosphoribosyl-5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide formyltransferase, 5-amino-1-ribosyl-4-imidazolecarboxamide 5'-phosphate, transformylase, 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribotide transformylase, AICAR formyltransferase, and aminoimidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase. This enzyme participates in purine metabolism and one carbon pool by folate.

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 11 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , , , , , , and.