Reaction: UDP-N-acetyl-α-D-glucosamine + [4)-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→]n = UDP + [4)-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminyl-(1→]n+1
Other name(s): chitin-UDP N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase; chitin-uridine diphosphate acetylglucosaminyltransferase; chitin synthetase; trans-N-acetylglucosaminosylase
Systematic name: UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine:chitin 4-β-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase
Comments: Converts UDP-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine into chitin and UDP.
Links to other databases: BRENDA, EXPASY, KEGG, Metacyc, CAS registry number: 9030-18-6
References:
1. Glaser, L. and Brown, D.H. The synthesis of chitin in cell-free extracts of Neurospora crassa. J. Biol. Chem. 228 (1957) 729-742.
2. Sburlati, A. and Cabib, E. Chitin synthetase 2, a presumptive participant in septum formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Biol. Chem. 261 (1986) 15147-15152. [PMID: 2945823]