1. Enzymes that catalyze the transfer of glycosyl group to an acceptor.
Most often another carbohydrate molecule acts as an acceptor, but inorganic phosphate can also act as an acceptor, such as in the case of phosphorylases. Some of the enzymes in this group also catalyze hydrolysis, which can be regarded as transfer of a glycosyl group from the donor to water.
Subclasses include the hexosyltransferases, pentosyltransferases, sialyltransferases, and those transferring other glycosyl groups.
Registry number: EC 2.4
Synonym: transglycosylase.
(08 Mar 2000)
