Xylose isomerase

In enzymology, a xylose isomerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction


 * D-xylose $$\rightleftharpoons$$ D-xylulose

Hence, this enzyme has one substrate, D-xylose, and one product, D-xylulose.

This enzyme belongs to the family of isomerases, specifically those intramolecular oxidoreductases interconverting aldoses and ketoses. The systematic name of this enzyme class is D-xylose aldose-ketose-isomerase. Other names in common use include D-xylose isomerase, D-xylose ketoisomerase, and D-xylose ketol-isomerase. This enzyme participates in pentose and glucuronate interconversions and fructose and mannose metabolism. The enzyme is used industrially to convert glucose to fructose in the manufacture of high fructose corn syrup. It is sometimes referred to as "glucose isomerase".

Structural studies
As of late 2007, 73 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and.