Reaction: GDP-α-D-glucose + [(1→4)-β-D-glucosyl]n = GDP + [(1→4)-β-D-glucosyl]n+1
Other name(s): cellulose synthase (guanosine diphosphate-forming); cellulose synthetase; guanosine diphosphoglucose-1,4-β-glucan glucosyltransferase; guanosine diphosphoglucose-cellulose glucosyltransferase; GDP-glucose:1,4-β-D-glucan 4-β-D-glucosyltransferase
Systematic name: GDP-α-D-glucose:(1→4)-β-D-glucan 4-β-D-glucosyltransferase (configuration-inverting)
Comments: Involved in the synthesis of cellulose. A similar enzyme [EC 2.4.1.12, cellulose synthase (UDP-forming)] utilizes UDP-glucose.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, CAS registry number: 9027-18-3
References:
1. Chambers, J.C. and Elbein, A.D. Biosynthesis of glucans in mung bean seedlings. Formation of β-(1,4)-glucans from GDP-glucose and β-(1,3)-glucans from UDP-glucose. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 138 (1970) 620-631. [PMID: 4317490]
2. Flowers, H.M., Batra, K.K., Kemp, J. and Hassid, W.Z. Biosynthesis of cellulose in vitro from guanosine diphosphate D-glucose with enzymic preparations from Phaseolus aureus and Lupinus albus.J. Biol. Chem. 244 (1969) 4969-4674. [PMID: 5824571]