Reaction: GDP-α-D-mannuronate + [(1→4)-β-D-mannuronosyl]n = GDP + [(1→4)-β-D-mannuronosyl]n+1
Glossary: poly[β-(1,4)-D-mannuronate] = mannuronan
Other name(s): mannuronosyl transferase; alginate synthase (incorrect); alg8 (gene name); alg44 (gene name); GDP-D-mannuronate:alginate D-mannuronyltransferase
Systematic name: GDP-α-D-mannuronate:mannuronan D-mannuronatetransferase
Comments: The enzyme catalyses the polymerization of β-D-mannuronate residues into a mannuronan polymer, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of alginate. It is found in brown algae and in alginate-producing bacterial species from the Pseudomonas and Azotobacter genera.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, MetaCyc, PDB, CAS registry number: 37257-31-1
References:
1. Lin, T.-Y. and Hassid, W.Z. Pathway of alginic acid synthesis in the marine brown alga, Fucus gardneri Silva. J. Biol. Chem. 241 (1966) 5284-5297. [PMID: 5954796]
2. Remminghorst, U. and Rehm, B.H. In vitro alginate polymerization and the functional role of Alg8 in alginate production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72 (2006) 298-305. [PMID: 16391057]
3. Oglesby, L.L., Jain, S. and Ohman, D.E. Membrane topology and roles of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Alg8 and Alg44 in alginate polymerization. Microbiology 154 (2008) 1605-1615. [PMID: 18524915]